Gratitude is the strongest positive emotion you can feel. Has your gratitude practice, if you have one, filled the void of what’s missing in your life yet?

If not, then you may have a block to receiving what you want. What are you not receiving in your life?

I’ve struggled with emotional eating all my life. We all can turn to addictions to fill a void or deal with stress whether it’s Facebook, television, eating, video games or whatever. There are a plethora of escape vehicles on this planet.

As a life coach and spiritual teacher, I’m able to access beyond the surface to the body, mind and spirit levels. When I finally decided to get to the bottom of why I haven’t received what I want in my life yet, some interesting questions came to me. If you haven’t received what you want yet, ask yourself the following questions:
1. What is missing in my life that I really want to have in my life? (You may have been projecting the lack of it on others, the economy, stereotypes, etc.)
2. What am I not receiving?
3. What do I need to change, heal, do (or do differently) to receive it in my life?

If you are anything like me, you’ll get surface answers at first. I want a better income; the relationship; more harmony in existing relationships, etc. Then I asked what those things represent to me and what I get from my substitute for them (usually food).

For me the answer was love. I’m not receiving love. It isn’t that people haven’t offered it, it’s that I haven’t been receiving it.

When I understood that what was missing from my life represented me not receiving love, I sat with it for a little while. Why would I not receive love? Why would I block (unconsciously of course) the receiving of love?

While I don’t believe in blaming parents and holding onto the story of our upbringing because that just keeps us stuck in it, we do need to feel the feelings we have bottled up in order to let the story go. I believe we choose our parents and families for the lessons we each need to teach and learn. We are all students and teachers – at every age. We all do the best we can with who we are at each particular moment in time.

All of that said, I will share a bit of my story to illustrate what was stopping me from receiving love in the hopes it will help you and your children.

For me, it turns out that not receiving love was a learned pattern from my family of origin who got it from their parents…and so on. I don’t recall my parents being very affectionate, and I’m a sensitive kinesthetic person who loves a good hug. So while some kids may not want to receive hugs from parents (especially at certain ages), apparently I needed it. I was given food and gifts to show affection.

I also have no recollection of my parents saying they loved me (but they showed it a lot). They only started saying that to me when I was in my 30’s living thousands of miles away. I remember being angry when they first said it as they paused for me to say it in return after never having had this exchange all my life. It took me a little while to reciprocate.

Having learned how to bottle up my words and feelings and shove them all down with food instead, I also learned how not to receive love – except from food and shopping, and… you get the picture. You see this is how my family of origin shared love. To understand this issue better in yourself or your child, take the free 5 Love Languages Test.

So I ask you, what is the bottom line of that which you are not receiving? Is it love? Is it forgiveness? Worth? Value?

Once you recognize “it,” you can change it. You have the power. No one can think for you. No one can move through your feelings for you, and no one can take the actions you must take.

It is God’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. The only block is your inability to receive. Heal the blocks to receiving because your Soul is waiting to deliver your best dreams and move forward with your life in joy and enthusiasm.

Depending on your issues or those of your children if you share this practice with them (and I hope you do), you may need additional assistance from a therapist or someone like me who is trained in the energy healing arts. You will know your own best path to wholeness.

If you share these questions with your children, please let them come up with their own answers. If you need assistance, be sure to seek help.

Thank you for taking steps to receive what you really want in your life. We are all One. So when you lift up yourself, you lift up the whole.

Please share this post with those who may benefit.

Enjoy infinite blessings,

Cheryl