piggy-backing on my previous blog about my one resolution for the year to "give more", i thought i'd share something i read the other day on giving and the law of circulation (giving & receiving). this one section about receiving was a serious "a-ha! moment" for me:

It's important to notice how you respond to compliments especially when they are sincere and valid. Do you downplay it, decline it or ignore it? Do you say something like "Oh it's nothing." The reason why you do not accept other people's compliments about you is because you do not accept them about yourself. Learn to have complete self acceptance so that you can look others in the eye and say "Thank you." The reason why it is important to accept compliments is that it allows the other person to give something to us.

Do not refuse anything good that is offered to you. If someone offers you a gift, take the gift and just say, "Thank You." If you are in a restaurant and someone wants to pay the bill, don't argue. Just say, "Thank you" and allow them to give to you. Give up your beliefs about accepting gifts from others. Forget about feeling vulnerable or owing them something. Don't decline it because you do not want to be affected by the law of reciprocity.

If someone gives you something you don't like or you don't need, pass it on to someone else who can use it or enjoy it. As you do this, everyone gets to win. When you refuse a gift from anyone, you are not only blocking the flow of abundance in your life, but you are also blocking the flow of abundance in the giver's life.

Source: http://www.mindreality.com/law-of-circulation-flow-of-giving-and-receiving

i can't even begin to recall the many times i've denied someone who was simply trying to give to me. of course i didn't see it that way at the time, but after reading this i realize that's just what i was doing. in resolving to "give more" i must also be aware of receiving and accepting more in my life.