Self-Worth and Receiving: A Healing Journey Into Worthiness and Abundance

Reiking Sunshine
May 13
5 min read

Hey, Radiant Soul!

Let’s take a breath together and pause for a moment.

How easy is it for you to truly receive?

Not just compliments or gifts — but support, abundance, care, love, joy, rest, acknowledgment? For many of us, especially those raised to grind, prove ourselves, and give without asking, receiving doesn’t come easily. I know it didn’t for me.

I used to think I had to earn everything — that if I didn’t “give back” immediately, I was taking up too much space. That being poured into meant I’d owe someone. But let me tell you right now:

Receiving is not selfish. It’s not weakness. It’s a healing practice. It’s remembering that you are already enough.

I Had to Learn That Receiving Is a Worthiness Practice

Receiving isn’t just about the physical — money, gifts, opportunities. It’s energetic. It’s spiritual. It’s about saying, "Yes, I’m available for joy. I’m open to being supported. I am worthy — without performing for it."

But whew — that takes work, doesn’t it? Especially if you grew up in survival mode. Especially if your identity became tied to how much you give, fix, or hold it down for others.

Sometimes, receiving feels vulnerable. If I open up, will I be safe? Will I be seen? Or will I be disappointed again?

This is why I say receiving is sacred—because it asks you to trust again, to soften, to believe that love and support can come not just from struggle but from alignment, from knowing you don’t have to do everything alone anymore.

Why We Block Receiving (Even When We Want It)

Let’s keep it real — we say we want ease and abundance, but sometimes our energy says otherwise.

Here’s what I’ve learned about what blocks receiving:

1. Feeling Like You Have to Earn It

Growing up with conditional love might make you feel like nothing is free. You might believe you have to hustle for worthiness.

2. Fear of Owing Someone

I’ve been there. You receive something kind and immediately wonder what’s expected in return. That’s not generosity—that’s a transaction, and it leaves us guarded.

3. Not Wanting to Seem Weak

For many of us independence is survival. Asking for or accepting help can feel like we’re failing.

4. Low Self-Worth

If you don’t feel worthy deep down, you might block the blessings you’ve prayed for. You’ll brush off praise, turn down help, and keep overgiving.

But here’s the shift — once you see the pattern, you can change it. Awareness is a doorway to healing.

5 Journaling Prompts to Heal Your Relationship with Receiving

I always return to journaling because it keeps me honest and aligned with myself. These questions helped me unlearn many of the stories I didn’t even realize I was carrying.

Try these prompts when you have quiet time to reflect:

1. What do I believe I deserve to receive right now?

Reflection: If this feels hard to answer, ask gently — Who taught me to dim my needs? When did I start shrinking?

2. Where do I block love, help, or abundance?

Reflection: Think of the times someone offered support and you brushed it off with “I’m good.” What was underneath that — pride, fear, shame?

3. How would my life feel if I fully allowed myself to receive?

Reflection: What would shift if you welcomed rest, joy, and softness without guilt?

4. What fears come up when I imagine being supported deeply?

Reflection: Do you worry about being let down? Feeling like a burden? That’s okay. Name those fears and ask: Are they still protecting me or holding me back?

5. How can I affirm my worth today?

Reflection: Maybe it’s saying no. Maybe it’s resting. Maybe it’s asking for help and not over-explaining. You deserve to take up space.

A Grounding Affirmation

"I am worthy of all the good flowing to me. I open my heart to receive with ease and grace."

Say it out loud, in the mirror, or whisper it to your younger self, who didn’t know she was allowed to rest. Even if it feels like you’re faking it at first, affirming it plants a seed. And seeds grow with care, time, and love.

Energy Healing & Receiving

In my Reiki work, I see this so clearly. When our heart and sacral chakras are blocked, we often struggle to receive—not just physically but emotionally and spiritually.

You might notice:

Tightness in your chest
Guilt when you rest
Always giving and never feeling poured into
Struggling to enjoy the moment

During Reiki, we work to gently open those pathways, reminding the body and the energy field that it’s safe now and that it’s okay to let love in.

Even at home, you can place your hands over your heart or belly during a quiet moment and say: "I am safe to receive. I am worthy of support."

My Story: When I Tried to Give My Way Out of Receiving

This lesson hit home for me during a time when I was really struggling. I was in a tight season—emotionally, financially, just in it. And one of my closest friends—someone whose love language is gifts—kept bringing me little things: a snack I loved, a healing book, a thoughtful crystal.

And what did I do? I felt guilty. Like, deep guilt. So I kept trying to buy her gifts back — even when I couldn’t afford it. Not from joy. From obligation. I didn't want to feel like I owed her something.

Then one day she said something that stayed with me: “I’m doing this because I love you. Just be open to it and enjoy it.”

That hit me. She wasn’t keeping score. She just loved me. And that was enough.

In that moment, something opened in me. It was a lesson in receiving without guilt. In letting myself be loved without immediately trying to earn it.

Simple Ways to Practice Receiving Today

You don’t have to do anything grand. Start small:

When someone compliments you, just say thank you — don’t minimize it.
Let someone help. Say yes to the support you usually brush off.
Rest without guilt. Turn off the noise. Let rest be your protest and your healing.
Ask for what you need. You don’t have to do everything on your own.

In each of these moments, say: “I am worthy. I am safe to receive.”

Boundaries Make Receiving Safer

Here’s something else I’ve learned: Boundaries and receiving go hand in hand.

Sometimes we resist receiving because we’re used to it coming with strings. But when you know your boundaries, you know what to say yes to — and what to leave behind.

Affirm: "I can receive generously while honoring my boundaries."

You don’t have to accept everything. Only what nourishes you.

Final Thoughts: You Deserve to Be Held, Too

You were never meant to carry it all on your own. You deserve to be supported deeply, unconditionally, and abundantly.

When you open yourself to receive, the world shifts. Doors open. Your nervous system relaxes. You begin to trust that life wants to hold you, not just test you.

Repeat this with me: