The Law of Receptivity says “the key to effective giving is to stay open to receiving.”
Okay, I have a few different points to make about this one.
First, the “age-old-wisdom” has been passed along incorrectly. The Bible originally taught “It is better to be in a position to give than to be in a position to need to receive.” Over time, that became “it is better to give than to receive.”
Keep in mind that “copies” of books were hand copied.
I don’t know about you but I wouldn’t want to copy the Bible by hand. It’s completely understandable that someone’s hand would get tired or that someone would skip a few words here and there.
Unfortunately, the meaning is completely different.
Second, this one is kinda like the fourth law. When I think about it, I think “well, duh! Of ‘course.” But, it still needed to be articulated for me to think about it.
It seems so simple. It should be obvious that someone who gives also needs someone to receive. That just makes sense but it isn’t that obvious.
It’s like a handshake. If you try to do a handshake by yourself, it doesn’t work because our hands are reflections of each other.
But a handshake with another person is a perfect fit because the hands are equal and opposite to fit together.
Let me explain it another way using the example from the book. If we inhale, we take in oxygen. When we exhale, we release carbon dioxide.
A tree on the other hand “inhales” carbon dioxide and releases oxygen.
These two together are equal and opposite. Together they form a perfect balance.
Which is why deforestation is an issue! Without plants creating oxygen, the balance is shifted and our air supply is seriously diminished. Without air, our survival is at stake.
Without receiving, no one else can give. Without someone with problems, what would happen to the problem-solvers?
Do you see the simplicity of this principle? It is both plain and simple. But it’s also easy to miss.
The idea is so simple, it’s striking.
My personal experience that relates to this is that when I gave without expecting to receive, I tried to stop the receiving that came back towards me.
I understand now that it was the natural consequence of my giving.
That’s partially why this was a “well duh” moment for me. I’d seen in my own life that trying to stop the receiving was only possible by stopping my giving! But, I didn’t really connect the two consciously.
Now I get it.
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