Giving and Receiving

Lindsey’s Lightbulb Moments

Giving and Receiving
One of the many questions I ask clients when exploring their core values in life is “Do you think yourself more as a Borrower or Lender?”. Yes – a strange question – and there are many more like that! These questions do effectively extract important core values which give clients a clearer sense of purpose and also an effective decision-making tool (anyhow – that is a subject for a future light-bulb moment!)

The answer to my question that I usually receive is “Lender” – and this has made me think about the use of the question. If everyone is lending then who is borrowing? You can’t have 1 without the other. They are not opposite – they’re complimentary. A bit like yin-yang. Don’t we need a balance?

Perhaps it’s about giving and receiving. What happens when you are giving all of the time and don’t like to accept anything from others? What’s the reason for this? Are you being a martyr? And what if you are taking or receiving all the time? Does this demonstrate neediness?

Many small business owners I have coached have found it difficult to receive money for their services – they are happy to give and the other person to receive – but feel uncomfortable about receiving. Through coaching we have discovered that it can be about their own sense of worth; their negative beliefs about selling; or they may be conditioned that giving is more honourable and receiving has negative connotations.

Isn’t this doing an injustice to the other person? Aren’t we are not allowing them the joy of giving!

This week’s short video [3:53 mins] has further thoughts on this topic.

Giving and Receiving from Lindsey Reed on Vimeo.

If you find that you are having blocks about receiving or giving and this is causing issues in your life, then you may be interested in working with a coach so that you are comfortable and grateful for allowing the flow of giving and receiving. How would that be?

Lindsey Reed is an experienced Coach who specialises in boosting the confidence of professionals. Email Lindsey@glows-coaching.co.uk or call 01832 280168 to see how she can improve your confidence in your working life..