by Cara Lumen
As I watch the people around me prepare gifts for others, I realize how important the moment of acceptance is. Do you take a long time unwrapping your present, noticing and admiring the wrapping and the bow and the care that was taken to make the gift packaging beautiful? Whatever is inside, do you truly let it touch your heart and feel the love behind the gift, tune into the person who gave it to you and appreciate the time and the thought and the choice that went into it?
A long time ago when I was in theatre someone came up to a friend of mine and complemented him on his performance. He said, “I could have done better.” I later pointed out how that negated the person making the observations. When someone gives you a compliment let it sink in and then acknowledge it with a simple “thank you.”
In New York City years ago in an est communication seminar exercise we sat in chairs opposite each other and took turns giving the other person compliments even though we didn’t know each other. It was interesting to see how I stopped those compliments from coming in, from really feeling them and accepting them, from believing them. If you can’t feel and accept the compliments that come your way, how will you ever feel nourished, or worthy, or appreciated or any of the great ways you feel when people give you a positive comment.
I keep all the nice things people say about me in an Acknowledgement List on my computer. Whether it’s a short line in an email or a whole testimonial which ends up on my web site, I keep them in one place and periodically read them to give myself a personal acceptance boost and to see how I’m doing – how others see me and if I’m touching hearts like I want to be. Since I appreciate being acknowledged so much I’m going to be better about acknowledging others this coming year.
This holiday season, surrounded with family that I have not been around for awhile, I’m going to pay attention to the anticipation of the gift giver, the expectation of the gift receiver, and the lovely joy of acknowledging and being acknowledged. I’m going to soak it in and give a lot of it back out.
So in the spirit of giving and receiving, I want to thank you for being a part of my community, for reading some of my posts and articles, for coming to some of my teleclasses, for letting me participate in your business as a coach partner, for being a peer mentor and a friend. I am grateful for each of you and very glad to have you in my life.
May your holiday be filled with love and gracious acceptance.
© 2009 Cara Lumen
