Which is Better, to Give or Receive?

I know you’ve likely grown up hearing it’s better to give than receive, right? Well is it really?

Yes, clearly there are many benefits to giving. These include:

• Generosity boosts happiness levels.
• Generous acts inspire others to give.
• Generous people tend to make more money.
• Volunteering can be good for your mental and physical health.
• Generous people are hot (yes there is research about how generous people are more attractive.)

Here’s my question to you …

If you are always the giver are you preventing someone else from reaping the benefits of giving to you?

Isn’t it a bit selfish to not receive? After all, there can’t be a giver without a receiver.

If you are not open to receiving this could actually hurt your relationships and your business. Who has been offering to give to you that you’ve been saying no to, or pushing away? Sometimes the most generous thing you can do is to let someone else give to you.

My mother-in-law used to always want to send us home with something when we visited her in Atlanta. Sometimes it was a bowl, or cans of tuna, or even a giant box of aluminum foil. The foil actually became part of joke during my daughter Amy’s bat mitzvah speech (10 years ago) … She was finally adult enough to care for this family “heirloom.” We almost always graciously accepted the gifts from my mother-in-law, even when we didn’t need or want them. It made her feel great to give to us. Our memory of her is that of a loving, generous woman.

Need a little practice with being a better receiver?

Try graciously accepting the next compliment you receive. Simply say thank you. Truly take it in without diminishing it in your mind or with your words.

By the way, I think you’re awesome. (Did you take that one in?!)

Every good wish,

P.S. When you’re ready and the time is right, let me know if you want to have a conversation about how to listen to and understand your own thoughts and beliefs when it comes to money. Email me at ellen@ellenrogin.com and put “money thoughts” in the subject line.

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