You Can’t Receive What You Don’t Give Hey you - welcome back to The Bold Standard. Let’s talk about something that most people misunderstand:You cannot receive that which you do not give. At first, it sounds logical to argue, “But how can I give something I don’t have? If I had it, I wouldn’t need to receive it.” But that’s exactly the mindset that keeps us stuck - waiting to feel abundant before acting abundantly, waiting to be loved before showing love, waiting to see proof before having faith. And that’s not how God works. The Smile Experiment I grew up in Bulgaria, where people are… well, not exactly known for their warmth. Everyone complains that no one smiles, that people are cold or unfriendly - but no one ever thinks to smile first. We wait for others to soften before we do. We wait for someone else to show kindness, to initiate warmth, to open their heart. And then we wonder why nothing changes. When you meet hardness with hardness, the energy stays heavy. But when you choose to smile first, something shifts. Unless the person is determined to stay miserable, most people will smile back. And suddenly, everything softens. There’s even research proving that when you smile at someone, both of you release endorphins. It literally heals your mood. But we’re so used to waiting - for others, for circumstances, even for God - instead of realizing that we were given the power to create the very thing we keep asking for. What You Recognize, You Energize We say we want abundance, but we approach life with scarcity.We say we want love, but we stay guarded.We say we want peace, but we gossip, complain, and react. And then we wonder why nothing changes. Because whatever you recognize, you energize. If you keep noticing lack, you energize lack.If you keep noticing blessings, you energize blessings.If you keep noticing love, you energize love. That’s how God designed this reality. There is an amazing quote from ‘A Course in Miracles‘ that says: “Only what I do not give can ever be lacking.” God Gives You What You Already Have God doesn’t give you what you don’t have. He multiplies what you already carry. If you say, “God, I need money,” He’ll say, “Yes, you do.”But if you say, “God, I am blessed and grateful for what I already have,” He’ll say, “Yes, you are.” God wants what you want, but He gives you more of what you already embody. Faith isn’t about begging for something to appear. Faith is conviction.It’s knowing that you’re already blessed, already provided for, already abundant. Faith is saying, “God, make me aware enough to see what’s already here.” Because once you see it, you expand it. Love First Let me tell you a story. My mom never knew how to show love. She never said “I love you,” never hugged me, never asked how I felt. I spent my whole life craving that kind of warmth from her - especially when I was at my lowest. There was a time when I was completely broken, emotionally and mentally. I went back home hoping to be held, comforted, seen. But she just sat there. Not out of cruelty - she simply didn’t know how. And I remember thinking, Why can’t she love me the way I need? Why can’t she be there for me just once? Until one day, in the middle of that pain, I decided to stop waiting and just both give and get what I needed. I stood up, walked to her, and hugged her. I said, “I just need you right now.” And she hugged me back. She said, “It’s okay, don’t worry,” and patted my back. It was the first time she’d ever done that. In that moment, I realized she could love - she just needed permission. When I gave what I’d been waiting to receive, everything changed. But I had to overcome my own ego wanting to be the victim, blame my mum for being who she is, and stay angry and refuse to show love to the person who doesn’t show me any. Give What You Want to Feel It’s easy to meet negativity with negativity. To give coldness when someone is cold. To wait for someone else to prove they deserve our love. But that’s not power. That’s ego. The bigger, braver thing is to give what you wish you were getting - love, respect, abundance, patience - not because they deserve it, but because you deserve to live in that energy. Even if nothing changes, you still win.Because you get to feel love instead of resentment.You get to experience abundance instead of lack.You get to stay connected to God’s flow instead of your own fear. Command It Into Existence God isn’t holding back blessings from you.He’s waiting for you to act like someone who already has them. When you stop waiting and start commanding - when you speak, move, and give from a place of conviction, the world around you rearranges itself. People shift. Opportunities appear. Doors open. Because you finally aligned with what God already knew was yours. Be the One Who Goes First Stop waiting for someone to love you first.Stop waiting for life to prove it’s safe before you take a leap.Stop waiting for a sign before you give what’s in your heart. Be the one who goes first.Be the one who smiles first, gives first, loves first. Because whatever you recognize, you energize.And God will always give you more of what you already are. If this message spoke to you, I’d love to hear your reflections in the comments below. And if you want to go deeper into these conversations, remember your power and step into your boldness, please subscribe to my Substack. Your support matters xx Also, please follow me on IG for more: / rinasavova With love,Rina ✨The Bold Standard Get full access to The Bold Standard at theboldstandard.substack.com/subscribe
