This time of year most of us have given thought to what we’d like to do differently or accomplish in the coming year.  Often our resolutions include things like more money, or exercising more.  But are you ready to receive what you’re asking for?  Do you believe you ‘deserve’ it?

Barbara Laporte is a career management expert who specializes in career/life transition for midlife adults.  She often uses Treasure Mapping as a visual manifestation process for her clients.  However, she makes the point in this article that if you aren’t ready to receive gifts (from others and from the Universe) gratefully and gracefully, what you are wanting to manifest might be a long time coming!

One Christmas, when my daughter was six years old, she received a gift that thrilled her so much she actually squealed when she opened it.  What is remarkable about this is not that the gift itself was so fantastic, but that she received it so openly and joyfully.

On the other hand, a co-worker was recently relating a story about her husband’s birthday gift to her.  He left work early, told her to be ready to go out, and they got in the car to drive to his surprise for her.  She expected it might be an elegant dinner at a favorite restaurant.  She was vastly disappointed when it was not, and she told him so.  Her reaction upset him, and the day was ruined for both of them.  If she had been able to respond with gratitude just for the thought, effort, and love he put into his gift, whether or not it was what she expected, think how much differently that scenario could have played out.  

How do you respond when you receive a gift?  If you don’t necessarily squeal with delight, are you able to joyfully accept the gifts given to you and the love with which they were given?  Or do you have difficulty receiving?  Perhaps you are concerned that the gift cost too much or that you somehow don’t deserve it.  Do you say to yourself, “Oh dear, they gave me more than I gave them”?  Or maybe you have difficulty receiving because your self-talk is, “They gave me this? It’s only half the value of what I gave them!”  Or are you like the woman who was openly ungrateful because the gift didn’t meet her expectations?   

We always have the choice about how we will respond to life events, including gifts we receive – and our response can shape our circumstances.  This is the basis of The Law of Attraction – our lives reflect our thoughts.   

If you want to attract good into your life, it is your “response-ability” to consciously choose positive thoughts and reactions about the things that occur in your life.  Obviously, there are times when sadness, frustration, or even anger are appropriate reactions to something that happens.  As an example, in my work as a career counselor, I have encountered many people who have been laid off and are fearful about what will happen.  I encourage them to express their sadness, anger, and fear before launching their job search.  In order to move on successfully, they need to “feel the feelings” before they can convey the confidence and enthusiasm that job search requires.  When they are ready, sometimes I introduce them to a tool called Treasure Mapping, which in addition to helping them with job search, also helps people learn about response-ability.

Treasure Mapping is a powerful manifestation process I have been teaching for over 20 years.  It facilitates goal accomplishment as it helps people:

-    learn to identify and release the blocks they have about accomplishing their goals
-    appreciate their current situation and learning the lessons therein
-    get intentional and specific about what their goals are
-    affirm that the goal they envision is really possible, and
-    learn how to receive.

Frequently, a major block people have about goal manifestation is that they feel it is somehow selfish to desire whatever their goal is, and that they don’t deserve it.  But let’s say your goal is a fulfilling career.  If you are in a job that is satisfying and financially rewarding, chances are you will be happier, healthier, and in a much better position to contribute to your community.  In other words, you will be maximizing your potential if you achieved that goal, and there is nothing selfish about that!  

Treasure Mapping can work for virtually any pure goal – whether it is having a reliable car, a satisfying job, good health, a loving relationship, or something else.  One of the keys to successful treasure mapping is to truly believe you deserve the goal you wish to accomplish.  Equally important is learning how to receive – all of what the Universe offers you.  Your response to your situation, even if it the situation seems challenging or unpleasant, can affect what you receive in the future. 

Think of the woman in the example above, unable to appreciate the gift she received. What do you think will happen the next time her husband wants to give her a gift?  He is likely to be reluctant to surprise her, and their gift exchanges could well be strained for years to come.  When we snub the gift that the Universe gives us, even if it is something we don’t really want, our response simply needs to be to learn the lesson in the situation and to be grateful.  And when we like the gift we receive?  Let the little girl in your heart squeal with delight, and feel the joy!

Barbara Laporte is Director of Career Services in the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota.  She is author of “Goal Achievement through Treasure Mapping: A Guide to Personal and Professional Fulfillment” and “Expressions of the Heart” , both available exclusively on Amazon.com.