What went through your mind when you read the post title? Did you laugh? Did you think – ‘Okay, what does she want?’ Did you think, or even say out loud – ‘Don’t be ridiculous.’?
Or did you smile and say – ‘Thank you.’ ?
Just purely from my own experience and observations, most people tend to be in the first camp. (Or is it mainly a British thing?) Because it’s difficult to receive compliments. Usually we brush it off – ‘Oh, don’t be silly, I’m really not that awesome.’ or ‘This old thing? It doesn’t really fit me properly, it looks better on my sister.’ Or we throw the compliment back at the person – ‘You look gorgeous too! Are those new shoes? They’re lovely!’
But have you really considered what you are doing when you are unable to receive and fully accept a compliment? Imagine that the compliments were really gifts, or, if you like, money. If someone gave you £20, for no reason other than they wanted you to have it, would you throw it on the ground? Would you give it back to them immediately? Would you laugh in their face and tell them not to be so ridiculous?
I would hope not.
There are those of us who love to give. We love to make others happy, and we run ourselves ragged trying to please others (many of these people are Incarnated Angels, which I talk a little about in my latest oracle card reading on Youtube) but quite often, amazing givers are terrible at receiving. And they’re even worse at asking for help when they really need it.
Though I am more of an Old Soul than an Angel, Earth Angels in general have this similar problem of being too giving. I find it hard to ask for help, and sometimes even harder to accept it. A while back, I bit the bullet and wrote a blog post asking for help, and as a result of that post, I have developed amazing friendships with people who genuinely want to help me and see me do well. At times, I’ve found it hard to accept their help, but I’ve come to realise, that I’m helping them by receiving the help that they are offering. And when possible, I find ways to help them, so there is a healthy flow back and forth, (but not in a throw it back in their face kind of way.)
In the last couple of weeks, I have been organising a party to end all parties, for my 30th Birthday. Though I already had many of the decorations and things from the previous two Harry Potter themed parties I’ve thrown, there was still a lot more to do, as I am transforming the entire house and parts of outside too. It was a little overwhelming to say the least. Especially with my work schedule and writing my new book etc.
So my amazing friend, Liz Lockwood, and my awesome sister, Liz Gordon, and my fab mother Sally Byrne, all offered their help. At first, I was like – no, no, it’s all fine, I can do it. But after they repeated their offer of help a few more times, I finally said, actually, I really could do with some help. And do you know what? With their amazing creative input, the party is now going to be epic. It’s a team effort now, (along with the help of my partner and his three kids) and I know that everyone (myself included) will have the most amazing time. All because I finally accepted help that was being offered to me.
It’s hard work at first, accepting a compliment with a smile and a ‘thank you’, and accepting the help or the money that is offered. But it’s worth persevering. Because not only are you telling the Universe that you are open to receiving the abundance that is available to you, you are also making others feel good, because they have been able to give to you. And they have been able to make a difference in your life.
So here it is – your first chance to receive and completely accept a compliment:
You are a fabulous person, who has a wonderful, kind heart, and who brings joy to everyone around you.
Let me know how you did 🙂