Written from the heart by Ruchi Rathor
Life Coach | Helping You Lead From Within
“We are quick to give love, but slow to let it in. Yet love is only whole when it flows both ways.”
Most of us know how to give.
We give our time.
We give our care.
We give our energy sometimes until we are empty.
But receiving? That feels harder.
To stand still. To open up. To let someone else pour into us without earning it—this is the often forgotten side of love.
Why Receiving Feels So Unfamiliar
For many of us, receiving stimuli causes discomfort.
- We brush off compliments.
- We refuse help even when we’re tired.
- We downplay our needs to avoid “being a burden.”
Why? Because somewhere along the way, we learned that strength meant self-sufficiency, and love had to be proven by sacrifice.
But this belief costs us. It keeps us over-giving, under-nourished, and quietly lonely even in relationships meant to hold us.
Receiving Is Strength, Not Weakness
Here’s the truth: receiving isn’t passive, it’s an act of courage.
It takes strength to stay open.
To believe you are worthy of love without earning it.
To let care land in your heart without deflecting it away.
Think of your breath: you cannot exhale endlessly. You must inhale to live.
Love works the same way. Giving without receiving isn’t generosity, it’s depletion.
The Balance of Real Love
When you receive, you don’t take too much; you create balance.
You give others the joy of being needed.
You build trust by allowing intimacy to flow both ways.
True love is not one-sided. It’s a rhythm, a cycle, a mutual exchange.
A flow that says: I care for you, and I allow you to care for me.
Gentle Practices for Receiving
Learning to receive takes practice, but it begins with small, intentional shifts:
- Accept compliments fully. When someone praises you, could you resist the urge to downplay it? Say, “Thank you.”
- Say yes to help. The next time someone offers support, whether it’s carrying a bag or listening to your story, choose yes over “I’ve got it.”
- Pause in moments of care. Instead of rushing past affection or kindness, linger. Let it land. Let it matter.
A Personal Reflection
For much of my life, I was the giver.
I held space. I showed up. I poured myself out.
It felt strong, but in truth, I was running on empty.
I thought love meant carrying others, but I never let anyone carry me.
The day I allowed myself to receive, something shifted.
Love became lighter.
It stopped being work and started being home.
An Invitation to You
So let me ask you gently:
Where are you turning away from the very love that longs to reach you?
Not because it isn’t there.
Not because you don’t deserve it.
But because you’ve been taught to push it aside.
You are worthy of giving.
You are worthy of love.
And you are just as worthy of receiving without guilt, without earning, without apology.
Because love is not complete until it flows both ways.
Your Gentle Practice This Week
Notice the next act of kindness that comes your way. A compliment. A smile. An offer of help.
Instead of shrinking, pause. Breathe. Receive it.
Let it remind you: love doesn’t just live in what you give. It thrives in what you allow yourself to receive.
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