ready. set. receive.

Read time: 3 minutes

hey merry makers,

contrast is what makes photography & life captivating.

just how dark strengthens light, giving is strengthened by receiving.

i’ll start my admitting i’m no expert in receiving. this past week in an uber, i was sweating in the backseat to which the driver must have noticed and thoughtfully asked if the temperature was ok? i immediately said “yes i’m good thanks” even though i clearly wasn’t.

he offered to give me the gift of cool air and i rejected it… for no good reason. keep in mind this i was paying for this, so imagine how bad i am at handling things people do "just cause.”

i’m working on it, but i know some combination of my limiting beliefs, personal guilt, prioritizing other needs, & fear of looking weak leads me to deny generous gifts from others.

as i grow older i’m realizing more that receiving isn’t a sign of weakness, but a necessary part of being human.

asking for help requires both vulnerability & courage, which leads to richer, more authentic connections.

so in today’s newsletter i hope you’ll receive my gift of help better than i do.

mindset

a mindset of receiving shifts our focus from output to input

to receive is an art in which you must allow yourself to be supported & nurtured, creating space for making & feeling the magic of being a human.

while you may not guess this from my opening story, i personally believe that every person you meet carries the possibility a profound present for you and you are responsible for giving each person enough of your energy so you can receive it.

the benefits of a receiving mindset are never-ending, here are just a few:

• deepens connections to others

• builds trust with others (& the universe)

• opens us up to new experiences, people, & ideas

• promotes giving

• gets you out of life auto-pilot

in short, receiving adds meaning & fulfillment to life.

mission

this week we will relish in receiving, soaking in the gifts all around us like our lungs breathe air & our skin soaks up sun.

i’ve made the most personal progress on this challenging mission by setting an intention each day — “i am open & receptive to all the good this life offers.”

with this in mind, i then find it easier to practice receiving in small ways:

• accepting a compliment (& not boomeranging a compliment back)

• accepting offers for help

• accepting gifts from others

• accepting the presence of another

soaking in these small moments pushes my perspective to an empowered state of abundance & gratitude.

in our society that values productivity & achievement, working to receive may seem counterintuitive. however by allowing ourselves to receive, we create deeper connections with others, become more resilient, & open ourselves up to new experiences.

musing

as a solopreneur, i’m forced to practice receiving more than ever. nature of my business is in giving, but to sustain the business i must receive.

so i’m going to be vulnerageous (vulnerable + courageous) with you during this musing with a special request.

i’m in need of customers & champions to make the merry makery.

will you please sign up for my new merry membership?

as a merry member, you’ll get:

• 3 free cards of your choosing per quarter

• free shipping on all purchases

• free swag, special members-only stuff

• first access to products & premium content

• my forever appreciation

• & more to come!

all of this for only $7.11 per month or $71.11 per year (get two months free!)

if you’re not ready to commit, checkout these new compliment confetti cards that will make anyone feel extra special.

one more thing - please remember you’re more amazing than you realize,

MacK