118. Why Receiving Is as Important as Giving: Unlock the Hidden Power of Balance and Connection

Power Meets Mystic. It is the: 2024

e, especially as we head into: 2025

Cinthia: Absolutely. What we’ve found is that it’s so much easier to give. I think what happened is that we bought into this thing we grew up with: “It’s better to give than to receive.” Now, there’s some merit to it; however, that’s not a complete statement. It’s not a complete truth, and we’d love for everyone to just see how amazing receiving can be for everyone involved. Do you agree?

Michelle: Absolutely. And put another way, receiving is essential. It is absolutely imperative that we receive and that we receive with gratitude. But now we’re getting ahead of ourselves, or at least I am. Let’s start with the basics. Cinthia, why don’t you open it up? Because I love your first tip on receiving.

ich is coming out in February: 2025

On the receiving end of things, listening is a gift, right? I mean, nobody wants to talk to somebody who’s not paying enough attention to listen to them. People want you to notice them. You know, when somebody wears shiny shoes to a party, they probably want you to notice them. The gift of a smile, the gift of being noticed, or having somebody repeat back to you what you’ve said—these are all ways that we demonstrate receiving, by taking an interest in our environment and showing that interest to the people, and I guess the pets and critters and the plants, probably all around us. I’m a nature girl.

Cinthia: Yes, you are. We’ll talk about that in a second—about the little conversation we had before our podcast. I am so in agreement with you, Cinthia. Receiving for me, on the woo-woo side, is a way to open up an energy exchange.

What we see is that when people argue, they stop listening because they’re so invested in getting their point across. And then you see two people talking at each other, and with frustration, it starts escalating. If one person can receive, it gives the other person two things. One is the acknowledgment, just like you said: either repeating back, or saying, “This is the way I understand what you’re saying,” or “Good point,” or “I hear what you’re saying.” What happens is that it’s no longer hitting a wall of resistance. There’s an acceptance, and then there’s an exchange. That is true communication—receiving information and then sharing information.

And if you think of it as an infinity, right? You receive information from one chakra, and it goes out another chakra. It’s actually really, really beautiful. So, that’s the beauty of receiving, for me, especially when it comes to communication.

Michelle: Absolutely. It’s essential, right? Who wants to go through life when nobody ever listens to you? That’s no good. It is this pattern of exchange. And it’s funny, as you’re talking about it, I just saw Wicked. Have you seen Wicked yet?

Cinthia: No.

Michelle: You need to go see Wicked. But what makes me think about Wicked is that Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, wears these eyeglasses that have the shape of the infinity on them. It’s kind of a subconscious thing. Like, I don’t know who pays attention to stuff like that—I do—but that infinity, right? That give-and-receive going back and forth, that wave of energy, you can’t just give; you have to receive, too. Sometimes, that’s as easy as just saying thank you.

I think when we talk about “It’s better to give than to receive,” an awful lot of us developed a habit as kids where if somebody says, “Oh, gee, I like your shoes,” you’d respond, “Oh, they’re really nothing.” That’s not the way to receive. If you don’t know what else to say, just say thank you.

Michelle: You don’t have to go into other things. But definitely, do not deprecate yourself in the process. Just say thank you.

Cinthia: Here’s another layer to that—and I got this from my daughter, who is an MFT (Licensed Marriage Family Therapist): when you say thank you, you actually need to take a breath or two before you say anything else. Because sometimes, thank you is also a way of deflecting, just like you said, Michelle. Or you’ll say, “I got these on sale,” or share a story. But to just say thank you and let it get into your body? That’s uncomfortable. It’s really uncomfortable, especially when it’s personal. But if you can just say thank you and let it ease into your body, that is receiving.

Michelle: And that takes us to the next tip.

Cinthia: Right. The next one for me is that receiving allows someone else to be generous. There are a lot of people who really don’t know how to be generous, and so they have to figure it out. Generosity isn’t something we’re explicitly taught; it’s an experiential way of learning.

There are so many times when we say, “Oh, don’t worry, I can take care of it,” or, “Oh, it’s fine; I’ll get it myself.” But when someone opens a door for you, or says, “I’ll pick this up for you,” that’s their act of generosity. Being generous feels good because you feel abundant—you feel like you have this and more to give.

I like to tell my clients that receiving is the biggest act of generosity because you’re allowing someone to be something they may not usually be. What about for you, my friend?

Michelle: I just want to take that a step further. We all know the advice to practice gratitude—do your gratitudes every day, be thankful, write them down. If you’re thankful, you’re in the right vibration. But you can’t be thankful for something if you never receive anything.

So, receiving is important. Whether it’s noticing a beautiful sunrise, getting a thoughtful gift, or setting an intention to receive something in the coming year, these are all ways we open the door to opportunities for gratitude. And gratitude, as we know, is a powerful force.

Cinthia: Yes! And when we talk about gratitudes, we sometimes forget the miracles we experience when we’re in a state of receiving. For example, I’ve had traumatic events in my life, but when I’m open to receiving, I see the beauty in what unfolds. Like when my brother passed, I got to meet so many people from his life and witness how much love surrounded him. That was a gift, even in loss.

Michelle: Absolutely. And that reminds me of my previous book, An Alignment of Spirit: Finding Work You Love. While the examples in the book focus on manifesting work, the principles apply broadly. One of the steps I outline is the importance of receiving. It’s a step people often overlook, but it’s critical to the manifestation process.

Cinthia: Agreed.

Michelle: And speaking of receiving, here’s another point: receiving is tied to openness. In my upcoming book, I talk about how “O” is for openness. Being open to new experiences, ideas, relationships, or ways of doing things is essential for growth. That openness creates space for receiving.

For example, being open to trying a new coffee shop or striking up a conversation with someone at a party can lead to unexpected opportunities and connections. It’s all part of the cycle—you receive, which empowers you to give, and so on.

Michelle: Yes! Openness is foundational to both personal growth and collective well-being. And it’s not just about trying new things; it’s about trusting the process. Trusting that what you receive is meant for you.

Cinthia: Trust is huge. For empaths especially, trust can be a challenge. Many of my clients struggle with receiving because they’re so used to giving. There’s a mistrust in receiving—like they’re keeping score or worried about having to reciprocate immediately. But receiving isn’t a favor; it’s an act of generosity. And that generosity is what builds meaningful relationships.

Michelle: Exactly.

Cinthia: Friendships are built on a million acts of generosity back and forth. That’s not mine—that’s Michelle Obama’s quote, but it’s so true. Trusting that we deserve the gifts we receive helps us feel worthy, replenishes us, and allows us to give more fully.

Michelle: Absolutely.

Cinthia: And I think for empaths, trusting in their worthiness to receive is transformational. When you trust, you unite with others on a deeper level, creating collaboration and connection. It elevates your work and your relationships.

Michelle: It’s foundational to manifesting, too. Trust and belief are necessary for manifestation. Without them, the process just doesn’t work.

Cinthia: Agreed. And that’s why I love groups like “Healers Healing Healers,” where they practice giving and receiving in balance. Imagine if we all did that regularly—what an incredible world we’d create. Receiving with an open heart, knowing it’s a form of generosity, could truly change the game.

elle: What a great vision for: 2025

Cinthia: Yes! And to our listeners, if you haven’t already, take a listen to our earlier episode on generosity. We’ll put a link to it in the show notes.

you to all our listeners from: 2024

Power Meets Mystic, and happy: 2025