Oprah’s Big Give

Oprah’s been busy these days. Last year she opened her school for girls in South Africa. Currently, she’s been hosting a webinar with Eckart Tolle on living your life purpose, which has over 2,000,000 viewers worldwide. At the same time she has a reality show on ABC that is called “Oprah’s Big Give.” (You can view past episodes of this show online at abc.com).

The reality show, Oprah’s Big Give, is about 12 people who are challenged by Oprah to make a difference by giving to those who need some extra help. Each week they fly to different cities and get a unique assignment. Perhaps it’s to help schools, veterans, recently widowed or the homeless. At the end of the assignment the players are rated by a panel of judges for creativity, team spirit, and effectiveness in helping others (not necessarily how much was raised). Whoever fails the judging criteria gets booted off. The twist on the title is that Oprah’s big give will be to the winner (which the players don’t know about yet). The winner will receive $1,000,000.

Most of the time the players have to raise the money to make a difference. One show was different, however. Two entrepreneurs gave $100,000 to each player (there were 7 players at this show). Their task was to disperse the cash in 24 hours in the city of Miami without actually giving it away. No one individual could receive the equivalent of more than $500 and no more than $10,000 could be spent in any one place. The players were going to be judged on how much they dispersed and the originality of what they did.

It turned out to be more difficult than it seemed. Giving seemed easy. A player would decide where they wanted to help (animal shelter, grocery store in a poor neighborhood, an automotive repair shop, a women’s shelter), enter and make some kind of deal (20 shoppers, $500, 15 minutes). Repeat the procedure every 2 hours and ta da! the money’s been given away.

What slowed down the process was the receiving end. People went into shock with their sudden windfall. They didn’t believe it and thought it was a gag OR they wanted to spend hours acknowledging the person who had given them the unexpected gift.

I see this challenge with clients all the time. The universe sends people gifts and abundance at every moment and the mind blocks the awareness of what’s there. A simple fact is: If you don’t perceive it, you won’t receive it.

This is what the mind does naturally. Our senses can’t take in every sound, sight, or feeling or it would overwhelm the mind. The mind has to choose what’s important for it. This is done through its belief systems and values. If you don’t choose your belief systems and values consciously, then the default belief systems in the subconscious, often formed from early traumas, social conditioning and ancestral patterns, will determine what the mind allows in.

But then there are the feelings that block receiving. Feelings of negative self-worth, shame or guilt all create blocks. Anger, grief and fear also blocks receiving. A mental factor that can occur with fear is that the mind tries to control the outcome and form of the external world. Controlling or forceful mental energy is psychic energy projected from the third eye or solar plexus that narrow and constricts the channels of receiving. It is possible to manifest this way but it also creates negative karma for those who are using this form and it rarely creates peace of happiness.

Family patterns of receiving are also factors in how big and well you receive. Sometimes people with very sensitive hearts block receiving because to allow energy into the heart is painful. Have you ever noticed how few people can say “You’re welcome” when you thank them for a service? They often respond with a “Thank YOU” or a real rejection of your appreciation and gratitude with “NO, thank YOU.”

How can you break these old, reflexive patterns that block receiving? Try the following awareness exercises:

Make a habit of opening your heart and receiving from other people on a daily basis. Whether it’s a compliment, praise, gift, or payment for a service, receive it with gratitude and graciousness.
Receive your gifts from the universe every day. Do you find yourself captivated by a beautiful sunset, a heart-shaped rock, or a flower? Open your heart and receive it as a gift from the Universe.
Offer gratitude and appreciation to the Universe as a form of acknowledgement to the gifts received. When you send up a silent “Thank you” you are showing the Universe that you recognized its offering. This is true as well, when you receive something from another person. In addition to thanking the person, thank the Universe for working through that person.
If you want miracles in your life, train yourself to perceive miracles. This increases the magnetic charge in your field and it in turn attracts more miracles.
Understand the polarity of giving and receiving. The duality of giving and receiving is something like this: If you give to me, that makes you less and me more. The polarity of giving and receiving goes like this: My receiving from you is a gift to you, because giving feels good. Most of us knows the pain of offering love and it is refused. When someone offers you love, open and receive it so that they don’t hurt from rejection.
If the form of what is being offered to you isn’t the form you need or want, silently acknowledge to the Universe that you are aware of the gift and that you are receiving the essence of giving. You can then choose whether to pass the form on to someone else, or ask the giver to pass the form on to someone else.
When someone says thank you (a gift of appreciation), respond with “You’re welcome!”

Here’s your chance to practice saying “You’re welcome.” (And say it out loud with emphasis).

I say, “Thank you for receiving my gift of wisdom in this post.” Now you say…..
Ahhhh, that felt good!