Today I´m writing these lines from Madrid, my second home, where I´m very fortunate to be able to stay once in a while. I´m allowing myself the luxury of enjoying a few days doing things that are important but not urgent.

One of those things, for example, was having lunch today with a few classmates from the Master´s degree we finished four years ago. And a really interesting topic of conversation came up: the importance of finding the balance between giving and receiving,

Because we often place a lot of focus on giving, and we´re giving from the heart, with our best intentions, but... how good are we at receiving? How much do we allow ourselves to receive?

(Painting seen in the streets of Dublin city a few months ago, with the title Heart FM. Interestingly, this was the flip side just behind the drawing from last week, Brain FM.)

Here are a few quotes to reflect on this topic:

Gracious acceptance is an art — an art which most never bother to cultivate.
We think that we have to learn how to give, but we forget to also receive,
which can be much harder than giving….
Accepting another person’s gift is allowing him to express his feelings for you.

Alexander McCall Smith

Until we can receive with an open heart, we’re never really giving with an open heart.
When we attach judgement to receiving help, we knowingly or unknowingly attach judgement to giving help.”

Brené Brown

When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully
everyone is blessed.

Maya Angelou

Thanks a million, Laura, Miriam, Lara and Alicia for our time together today; I really enjoyed it. You have reminded me once more that personal development work never ends, and that it involves not only contributing as much as we can, but also accepting, being grateful for, and enjoying all the good things that life brings us, now and in the future.

What about you? What is it that you´re not allowing yourself to accept and receive?