When Holiday Help and Gift Giving Feels Awkward

As the holiday season unfolds, we’re diving into something we all experience but rarely discuss; those awkward moments when help is offered or gifts are exchanged, and we don’t quite know how to respond. Welcome. I’m Alecia St. Germain and I’m joined by my co-host Jonathan Dugger and we’re diving into why we can find it hard to receive with joy and what’s actually behind the awkwardness. 

Jonathan reminds us that giving and receiving isn’t just related to gifts. We often relate the same types of responses when people offer help or even compliments. Receiving help or gifts can trigger unexpected discomfort. 

We explore how societal conditioning often ties receiving to vulnerability or even weakness. Research reveals that being open to receiving can actually produce more joy than giving. It’s about practicing receptiveness as a skill and reshaping how we perceive acts of generosity. It may seem awkward to work on your receiving muscles, but according to the research, the results are worth the effort. 

Happy Holidays!

Resources: 

Episode 8: How to Know if You’re Operating from Scarcity or Abundance 

Episode 9: How Gratitude and Gratefulness Create Peacefulness 

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