Feed your soul - 7 practices to help you learn how to receive more

Welcoming nourishment and support in its many forms is how your flame keeps aglow. When you have a balance between giving and receiving energy, your cup is full and your life feels abundant. Without this precious balance, you can feel low energy, dull, burned out, or even resentful.

There are three key pieces to solving this puzzle. Learning to openly accept or receive the goodness and peace meant for you is at the heart of nourishing your soul. Being receptive works hand-in-hand with two other points of focus. The first is releasing expectations or control so your highest possibility may flow to you. This may mean that your journey is different from the path you had in mind. And the other is cultivating an abundance mindset so you are aware of the opportunities and gifts available to you.

This trifecta of soul nourishment benefits from a deep commitment and continual re-commitment to:

• letting go of what’s holding you back (release)
• getting a clear perspective of the goodness in front of you (abundance)
• AND then welcoming the support your soul seeks. (RECEIVE)

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s ever more important to learn how to nourish your soul and find the lightness of being that you are. In addition to taking a peek at some of our favorite practices to help you shift into a more allowing state of being, we hope you’ll explore our other articles about letting go and creating an abundance mindset.

If you'd like to get started by strengthening your ability to tap into the present moment, take a peek at these simple, quick activities.

1. Let Nature Hug you with an Abundance Meditation

Meditation creates literal and figurative breathing room for your mind, body, and soul. If there’s no “room at the inn” then there’s nowhere for the new positive energy you seek to flow. That’s why meditation is our top practice for opening up space to receive. There are so many different approaches to meditation and it’s important that you find what works best for you. In its simplest form meditation is focusing on the present moment while letting go of any judgment. We like to use our breath as a point of focus to catch the current and stay with it. When thoughts arise or you realize that you’ve jumped into the day’s to-do list or an event from yesterday, simply take another deep, slow breath and recommit to being in the present moment. Below is a simple meditation for you to try that envelops you in nature and your connection to the abundance that is.

Start by getting comfortable and, with eyes closed, feel into your physical sensations - like your seat on the cushion or your feet touching the floor. Notice that you are supported by the ground, by the earth.

Connect with your breath. Breathe in and out deeply and slowly while imagining your exhale nourishing plants and trees. As you inhale, feel the oxygen-rich air return to you as a gift from the forests and flowers. With each breath cycle feel gratitude for the abundance and nourishment the earth provides for you.

As you settle into your breath cycle, begin to imagine yourself at ease seated in your favorite natural environment. Perhaps you’re below a canopy of trees in a redwood forest; feeling the crisp air on the top of a mountain; or gazing upon the sun setting over the ocean. Wherever you travel with your mind’s eye, stay connected to your breath and allow your gratitude to deepen with each breath cycle.

When you’re ready, close your meditation by sending a burst of peace and appreciation for the life that supports you and Mother Nature’s ever-present support.

2. Improve your Sleep Hygiene.

If you’re among the living, then you know sleep is an unavoidable task. And, it’s also pretty clear (or perhaps extremely fuzzy!) that a restless night’s sleep leads to a less-than-positive impact the following day. In fact, scientists have found quality sleep helps every major system – including your immune system while boosting your brain function and emotional wellbeing. Giving your self the gift of good sleep may seem like a luxury when in reality it is the baseline for preparing your body, mind, and soul to receive more. When you’re mentally and physically fatigued, you’re capacity to receive and welcome the support you need may be just as wiped out.

So on that note, there are some ways for you to upgrade your sleep. Perhaps the most important (and potentially most challenging) is making it a priority! Consistency is King, Queen, or Full (whatever floats your sheep). It turns out that cramming in longer periods of sleep on certain days or times doesn’t make up for a lack of sleep. In a study even students who slept longer the night before a test to improve their game-day brain function didn’t perform as well as their consistent bedtime classmates.

Now if you’re nailing the bedtime and rise to the rooster every day - yay! Keep it up, but there might be more to the story than you dreamed 😉. Not all sleep is created equal! Queue the 10-3-2-1 method that doctors and sleep experts point to for better Sleep Hygiene:

• Say hello and goodbye to caffeine in the morning! At least 10 hours before bed no more coffee, tea, etc.
• Close the kitchen (and bar) early. At least 3 hours before bed no more food or alcohol.
• Wind down the mind. At least 2 hours before bed shut down your work day.
• Unplug at least 1 hour before bed. Turn off all your screens to avoid light that causes alertness.

3. Learn How to Ask for Help

If you’ve struggled/avoided asking for help at any point in your journey, know that you are not alone! Despite research showing that helping others is a feel-good activity and likely a key piece of our evolution, most of us attempt to skirt asking for even small favors. Why? Well, in short, asking for help can feel uncomfortable, a sign of incompetence, or a setup for rejection. Yikes that sounds scary! Have no fear, since this may be a critical part of your journey to learning to receive, we’ve gathered some insight on how to put a flag on the top of this molehill in a mountain disguise.

First, note that the outcome of your request is not the main attraction here. Perhaps you will receive exactly what you need and more from your initial request or you might not. For the purpose of learning how to receive, the help you receive is not relevant. You showing up and ASKING is the main event! Below is a tidy checklist for you to consider as you’re stepping up to the microphone. It includes some tips on what you might want to keep in mind after you’ve chosen to open yourself to support.

• Get Clear. Prior to asking for help, get clear about what you’re seeking and boil it down as concisely as possible in these terms: 1) what specifically is the ask/task, 2) why is it important, and 3) how someone may step in to support, 4) why you think their skills/expertise are aligned. Keep your communication as clear as possible rather than inflating or diminishing the task.
• Own it. As noted above asking for help is a part of our DNA and what makes us lovable, living homo sapiens! Remember a time when you were able to help someone? Recall how it made you feel to be a support. Pretty good, right? You’re giving someone else an opportunity to have this experience. There is no need to apologize for asking for help. And if they aren’t able or willing at this point to be of assistance, find a place of resolve prior to your request. The outcome does not need to be a reflection of you, them, or your relationship.
• Be Open. It’s good to be clear about the help you think you may need, but sometimes having another person’s perspective will open up a new way to support that you might not have thought about yet. Or perhaps their ability to contribute is at a higher or lower level than you had initially thought was possible.
• Get Close. If you have the opportunity to in person when you ask - studies say to do this! Of course, being in the same room is not always possible, so consider the most intimate way you can communicate. Perhaps a video call versus a phone call or a phone call vs a text/email. The importance and scale of the request may also have an impact on how close you want to be when you connect with someone to ask for their help.
• Close the Loop with Love. If the person is able to support you, then your next consideration is how to express your gratitude. Again, the scale of the request can guide your follow-up. A hand-written note along with a thank you conversation may be a perfect fit for your interaction. No matter what size or type of help you may receive, always thank the person and let them know the positive impact their contribution made.

4. Explore New Things to Learn.

Learning to receive is moving your whole being into a more allowing and open state. In doing so, you are actively nourishing your soul and allowing the world and humans around you to contribute.

Another practice that helps you create a more open and welcoming orientation in your life is to expand your mind by learning new things. Seeking mind-nourishing opportunities — may it be classes, books, podcasts, or deeper conversations with others — opens new mental windows. Each new connection or offbeat topic you choose to delve into creates mental elasticity. There’s plenty of research to back your decision to dedicate your Saturday afternoons to learning to play the Ukulele.

When you choose topics or subjects that are outside of your normal knowledge intake, you’re boosting your capacity for receiving.

5. Empower Yourself with Superfoods.

The truth is there is no real definition for the word Superfood. In fact, much of the available research about the topic focuses on how marketers have taken this word hostage. This doesn’t change the fact that foods that are deliciously dense in vitamins and nutrients are super for you. And when it comes to practices that help you learn to receive, choosing to nourish yourself with healthy food is paramount. This along with sleep is your original medicine and expands your energetic capacity.

That said, in a marketplace that isn’t always authentically looking out for your high-vibe, healing journey, we know maintaining a life-force giving diet isn’t easy. So this practice is all being intentional about what you’re bringing into your body. Choosing and sourcing super-y foods is a commitment. One that we prioritize and know its power.

There are tons of other resources and experts available to help you navigate your nutritional experience, so we’ll keep this practice simple. Decide to deeply nourish yourself and your family with SUPER-duper foods before you drop into your supermarket. There are lots of great options — many of which won't say superfood on it. If there’s an option that appears not to be sprayed by chemicals while growing, go for that when you can. A few of our personal staples include: blueberries, matcha tea, spinach, and avocados. Do your research and make what’s good for you a priority.

6. Heal with Energetic Bodywork

Another fantastic way to shift your being into a more receptive mode is to allow a massage therapist or energy worker to offer their healing powers to you. There are tons of benefits to getting regular bodywork that supports both your physical and mental health. And, as it relates to learning how to receive more, this is a potent self-care practice.

If seeing a practitioner isn’t a match for your current situation, there are other great options. If you have someone in your home that might be up for offering a neck rub - ASK! And, don’t forget about numero uno! Whether you engage a therapist’s support or not, be sure to give yourself a massage. You might be surprised by what a quick foot rub, shoulder tension release, or a few rolls of the neck can do. Try out a foam roller to untangle knots. These are tiny gifts to yourself and an excellent practice for receiving!

7. Sync up with your Synchronicities.

Of all of the ways to open up to nourishment, we think this one is by far one of the most fun! The practice is pretty simple. Start by putting up your antennae for coincidences. You might notice things like repetitive numbers or someone pops to mind randomly and then reaches out to you shortly afterwards. When these funny little moments arrive, pause to let your heart smile!

Quick side story - The day before sitting down to write this article, I wrapped a video call with a friend where we talked a lot about the importance of letting go of old energy. Immediately after the call ended, the screen on my lagging old laptop screen went black with no hope of return. Thankfully everything was backed-up!

Then when I fire-up my new laptop to write this article about learning to receive, I immediately I receive a message. It was from an old friend letting me know that she’d placed an order with us and was excited to share with a large group of education leaders - what a gift! But that’s not all… her message was now the first and only text on my new apple Macintosh. Her last name is Mcintosh. 😮

Are these coincidences massively important messages from the great beyond? Maybe, maybe not. The point is that celebrating these little “winks” and honoring their uniqueness gives your soul a boost of good energy and opens your pathways to receive more.

Final Thoughts on Feeding Your Soul and Learning How to Receive More.

Incorporate as many suggestions in the list above into your life. You may find some of the practices easier than others and others you may already be doing. The key is to stay on your path. In addition to self-care, you may also discover ways to allow life to nurture you – your body, mind, and heart. As a source of light for others, it may not always be easy to accept or see generosity or goodness knocking on your door. So, open up and let the light in!

Hello, #BrighterBeing! Interested in exploring more? Because we’re all about reminders here at LumenKind, we make handy guides and tools to support you in taking action on these insights. And, we hope you'll join us on the journey with monthly insights, suggested intentions, and mindfulness tips. 

Related: Discover your Power Planet 🪐

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