Master THIS Delicate Balance to Achieve True Success

Written by: Laura Wieck • September 15, 2023

Image Source: https://unsplash.com/@ConvertKit

In a jam-packed auditorium buzzing with curiosity and feverish excitement, a tantalizing question cuts through the air…

"Are you ready to decode the hidden key to success?"

From the wings of the stage emerges a charismatic speaker, inciting a wave of awe and aspiration. Yet, beneath the rousing applause and electrifying energy, I can't help but feel uneasy.

The emphatic proclamation that follows reverberates around the room… and it seems somehow incomplete.

"GIVING is the key to success! To reach your pinnacle, you need to give MORE!"

This statement glosses over a critical piece of the success equation. Because there needs to be a balance between giving and receiving, which is essential for true, sustainable success.

Debunking The 'Give-Until-You-Can't-Give-Anymore' Syndrome 😓

I've found that the incessant, energetic cry to 'give more, and more' impacts various demographics differently.

Men typically derive their worth from their ability to provide. So being prodded to "do more" actually renews their vigor. They generally map out strategies to increase their giving, equating this with a higher rung on the success ladder.

Women, on the other hand, tend to react quite differently. Their shoulders droop, eyes well up with exhaustion, and hearts sink a little further. For them, this message is not empowering, but draining. The call to "give more" reinforces an unhealthy belief that success demands self-sacrifice, almost to the point of depletion.

And women aren't the only ones — today's working culture has been ingrained with the idea that success requires endless sacrifice. We're told that to be successful, we must give our time without reservation, and our gifts without expectation of reciprocity.

This belief has us running a never-ending marathon with no finish line, continuously attempting to prove our worth. Yet, when do we decide we've given enough? When can we shift from incessantly giving, to graciously receiving?

Re-define 'Success' By Recognizing The Power Of Receiving 🤲

Reflecting on my own journey to this realization brings me back to when I was entrenched in "the giving syndrome." I'd built a thriving massage practice, my schedule filled months in advance serving an array of amazing clients.

But beneath the surface of this "traditional success," I was chronically fatigued. I believed that success was achieved through a relentless sacrifice of my time, energy and talent — which left me physically drained and emotionally depleted.

In the midst of this chaos, I crossed paths with Philip Shepherd, the author of New Self, New World and Radical Wholeness. He explains that true presence emerges from a state of receptivity. From surrendering yourself to receive everything that surrounds you. His teachings spurred a profound realization in me.

Which led me to wonder, if the secret to success is more than just giving? In fact, maybe it also lies in the art of receiving?

Inspired by this new perspective, I pivoted my approach to the practice. Instead of solely giving, I began to consciously receive. I received energy from my clients as they entered my office, and formed intimate connections to their tissues beneath my hands.

The transformation was astonishing. My sessions became more potent and powerful, yet felt lighter and easier to complete. They carried a more significant impact, yet demanded less of me.

Achieve True Success By Balancing Both Giving & Receiving 🌳

So to uncover the true essence of success, we must first dispel the myth that success is born out of relentless giving or tireless output. While these elements have their place in the journey towards success, they only represent half of the picture (while the other half, which is often overlooked, lies in our ability to receive).

Take a minute to think about the world of nature.

An oak tree stands tall, deeply rooted in the earth, its broad canopy spreading towards the sky. The oak is a generous giver. Its acorns provide sustenance for many creatures, its bark a home to countless organisms, and its leaves a canopy of shade on hot summer days.

But this prolific giving is made possible by the tree’s capacity to receive. It absorbs nutrients from the soil, soaks up sunlight for photosynthesis, and breathes in carbon dioxide to produce oxygen. The oak tree epitomizes the essence of true success — a harmonious balance between giving and receiving.

This analogy extends to human life as well. We're endowed with unique gifts and talents. When we share these with the world, we contribute to the human experience, and giving can bring great fulfillment.

However, to maintain this level of contribution (without depleting ourselves), we must also be open to receive. We must be willing to accept love, support, and opportunities from our environment.

Because the true essence of success lies not just in how much we give, but also in how much we allow ourselves to receive.

This balance keeps us nourished and energized, enabling us to maintain our contributions and enrich our lives. Leading to a more profound, sustainable, and meaningful form of success.

The Undeniable Interconnected & Interdependent Path To Success

Once you understand the harmonious nature of giving and receiving, let's shift our perspective from individual to societal. Success must be interdependent, as all of the elements within our system are interconnected.

The health of this system depends on the balance between giving and receiving amongst all those who are in it.

Yet in a society that upholds competition, success is often measured by personal achievements — typically, at the cost of others, or the environment. But this approach is akin to a single tree attempting to thrive, while the forest around it withers. It is unsustainable and leads to imbalance and depletion.

So when we shift our definition of success from personal achievement to interconnection, a new perspective emerges. Here, success is seen not as a solitary climb to the top, but as the well-being of the entire system.

— Your success is tied to my success, and our success is interwoven with the health of our community and the environment.

Through this lens of success, the balance between giving and receiving becomes critical, because it moves us from competition to cooperation, from scarcity to abundance.

By balancing our drive to contribute with our openness to receive, we create a thriving, abundant ecosystem. Here, everyone has the opportunity to succeed.

How To Start Redefining Success In Your Business & Life Today

So remember — the pathway to real, true, authentic success is not a solitary trek, but a shared journey.

It's like a ballet combining the delicate steps of giving, with the grace of receiving. It appreciates that each fuels and sustains the other in a profound rhythm.

This path to success is interdependent, one that honors the thread that binds us to each other and our shared environment. It appreciates that our individual victories are intertwined with the well-being of the world.

True success, therefore, is not simply an accolade or a solitary achievement. It's a resonating harmony that uplifts everyone around us, and by extension, the world in its entirety. It's about thriving together in this complex, beautiful dance of life.

So if you're ready to simplify your business and live a full life of giving and receiving (without overcomplicating things), let's chat.

Over the past decade (and then some), I’ve helped thousands of heart-centered coaches double their income, while working less.

And I can help you gracefully make the transition too.

Build a fiercely aligned business (without getting distracted, lost or burnt out).

About the Author

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