SHAUMBRA HEARTBEAT
The Real GIFT OF THE SEASON
By Jean Tinder
The holidays are here! As I write this, in America we just celebrated Thanksgiving, a very family-oriented holiday, and of course next comes Christmas. While it’s a great time to focus on gratitude and giving thanks, in my experience the holidays mostly tend to revolve around giving, whether gifts, food, attention, effort, or love. However, I’m discovering that the real magic of this season isn’t in the giving at all – it’s in the receiving.
Now, I’m not talking about the polite kind of receiving, where you say, “Thank you” and then try not to make a fuss while feeling slightly indebted to the giver. I’m talking about an entirely different kind of receiving, where the giver is your own soul – and the gift is nothing less than everything. In other words, complete, uninhibited, full-on active receiving in every moment.
Most of us unconsciously avoid this kind of receiving because it feels counterintuitive – even impossible – to receive what you don’t want. It doesn’t even make sense to receive something that hurts. I mean, if I receive everything, good and bad, how could that possibly create the life I actually want? Don’t I have to make choices about all this?
Here’s the thing: When you choose to receive – fully, completely, without reservation – it takes you out of resistance. And that is the secret to creating the life you want. So yes, receive it all.
I’ve been noodling on this lately and exploring the topic in my daily life. It turns out that true receiving requires absolute trust – even more than I sometimes think I have. In other words, it doesn’t always come easy.
Humans, especially spiritually-oriented ones like me, love to manage reality. We sort, evaluate, tighten up, brace, imagine and hope. We decide what’s “good” or “bad” for us, what we want and don’t want, and then do our best to supervise life into aligning with those decisions. But none of that is allowing, and neither does it usually bring the results we want. Here’s why:
It’s the resistance itself – not the circumstance – that creates the discomfort.
Receiving isn’t about taking in everything as truth or letting yourself be walked all over by life and everyone in it. True receiving is simply letting each experience and potential arrive without immediately pushing against it. Without tightening. Without pre-deciding how it should go. Without trying to prevent some imagined danger.
Here’s something that’s true: life is for one thing – experience. And at the core of this illusionary existence, experience is ultimately the only thing you can receive. It’s the entire reason we’re here, and maybe it’s the simplest path to transcendence.
When you let an experience come all the way in, unhindered, something amazing happens – it transforms. The wisdom emerges. The love shows up. Synchronicity unfolds, and what looked like a challenge reveals a deeper treasure.
All that sounds great, but what does it mean in real life? Well, here are a few experiences I’ve had with receiving.
Invisible Friends
A while ago I was feeling sorry for myself about something, wondering what to do and how to handle a situation that had come up. I thought about how Geoff seems to have unfettered access to his invisible friends who are always brimming with good advice. Why can’t I have that too?
The truth is, I do feel them around, but I was pouting.
Then came the reminder: Receive this. Receive the feelings of being left out, of not feeling special, of whatever-the-hell aspect is getting triggered. Just receive it all.
I took a deep breath and let it all in. Suddenly everything lightened, and then a thought dropped in: I don’t need invisible friends – I AM the invisible friend.
My job isn’t Geoff’s job. My job is to be the light, the inspiration for myself and whomever else the light touches. Maybe somewhere a human being is feeling a loving presence, an angel of light who’s bringing a much needed sense of hope. What if that angel is me? I mean, there’s a lot more to me than just this human expression; who knows what she’s up to out there?
The moment I received the difficult moment instead of fighting it, everything shifted.
Others’ Pain
A couple of weeks ago, one of my kids had a heartbreaking experience with a pet. I was nearby, but wasn’t able to change the outcome, nor save them from the grief. I spent hours second-guessing myself, wondering how I could have made things better and if I’d equipped my (very adult) child well enough to handle life’s pain. On and on. I was absolutely resisting everything that had happened.
Then came the nudge – Receive this. Receive the fact of their pain. Receive your pain. Receive the wobbles of life and unexpected outcomes. Receive it all.
I took a deep breath and was able to see the bigger love in all of it. Yes, there’s pain in life, but the love is bigger. Everyone – and every pet – will be okay.
Family Chaos
In the last few days, I’ve been surrounded by family – my own kids, my partner’s kids and grandkids – and it’s been a lot. There’s nothing quite like going from a quiet life to sudden immersion in the joyful chaos of busy, noisy and sometimes cranky children! With everybody crammed in together, toys all over the floor, and lots of laughter, screaming, coughing, sniffling, cooking and playing happening all at once, I was quickly sinking into overwhelm.
Receive this too, my love!
I took a breath, stopped resisting the chaos, and let it flow into and through me. Instantly, it stopped hurting, and I could even feel the joy of these forgetful angels as their human selves dive into the boisterous experience of life. What a wonder!
The moment I stepped out of resistance and received, my entire experience shifted.
Body Troubles
Oh, but remember all that coughing and sniffling the kids were doing? Now I’ve got my own version – sore throat, head and body aches, general malaise. ‘Tis the season indeed. Grumbling to myself about how kids should be taught to cover their mouth when they cough, I poured a cup of tea and sat down. This is not what I’d planned.
But can you receive it? came the nudge.
I took a breath and received the achy discomfort. My body relaxed. I took another deep breath of trust. Dear body, she knows exactly what to do here. I don’t need to fight it, just receive. Sure, receiving might mean I also reach for some vitamin C, but when that’s done from love instead of resistance, it works a whole lot better!
Speaking of this body, she’s getting on in years. Yes, I know – 60 is nothing compared to a lot of Shaumbra out there. But it’s something for me! In some ways I feel more at ease in my skin than ever before. In other ways, I feel more limited than ever. It’s a mixed bag, and some days are more mixed than others.
Aw honey, receive it all.
I take a good deep breath and am filled with an incredible wave of love. This body, she’s a champion! I’m so glad to be here right now, witnessing a time on Earth I’ve been hoping for since forever, and she’s making it possible. When I stop fighting her, I only feel the wonder.
Receiving is the fastest and easiest way to get into the flow of a magical life.
Imagine a river. If you throw a big rock into the river, the flow doesn’t stop; it just gets turbulent. And if you’re always throwing rocks into the river – rejecting this potential, that experience, the other person – it creates whirlpools, rapids, and danger. But if you let the river of life flow without hindrance, without resistance, it’s smooth, strong and effortless.
If there is turbulence, pain, or drama in your life, that’s where you’ll find the stones of resistance, the places you forgot to receive. The good news is you don’t have try to fish them out of the river or rearrange them. They’re part of the river itself, hardened into rocks by your resistance. And when you fully welcome every experience, the receiving itself dissolves the barriers.
Oh, and then there’s love. Everyone loves love, but receiving love is a very specific way of experiencing it, whether it involves someone else or not. In fact, I think that’s the only way a Master truly loves – by receiving it.
Love can be a mixed bag when it comes to other people. Whether with friends, family or partner, love is often tainted by jealousy, regret, insecurity, and guilt. These are almost inevitable when we treat love as if it originates outside us. But let’s turn that around.
Instead of reaching outward in clinging, longing, disappointment, or hope, simply feel the love. Receive it inside yourself.
Not another person. Not some story.
Just the love itself — pure, present, alive.
We tend to believe that love must go somewhere. It must be given, acted upon, held by another, and hopefully offered back to us. But love is ultimately an inner event, an experience within self that doesn’t have to be completed on the outside. While it’s often triggered by another person, love’s existence does not depend on anyone else. And when you receive it, basking in your own capacity to love, it becomes a gift rather than a wound.
Ultimately, this is all about receiving your Self. Rejection of anything – even the things you’d rather avoid – is still a form of rejecting you. But the moment you drop resistance and breathe it in, new solutions and potentials appear, the ones resistance was blocking. You’re not breathing to fix or manage anything; you’re breathing to receive your own presence, balance, and coherence.
So, when something unexpected or unwanted happens, receive it. The pain isn’t in what happens; it’s in the resistance. As soon as the friction dissolves, your life begins to flow again. Wisdom rises, love returns, your choices clarify, and life itself can finally meet and support you. That’s what happens when you trust yourself enough to receive everything exactly as it is.
Here’s my holiday wish for you, and for myself: Let this be the season of receiving.
Jean,
I finally get it.
Receiving.
Thank you.
And a very, Merry Christmas.
Spot on as usual Jean.
🙏
Thank you and a very merry Xmas and a happy new year to you and your family.
Yes, I completely resonate with this: Allow receiving! Have a wonderfully peaceful end of year season Jean! One Love!🧡
Dear Jean,
Amazing gift, Thank you. 😉
Hugs.
Thank you🥰
Dziękuję 🥰
Hi Jean,
So true, and yet so difficult…
Creation began with resistance…
Wow! Jean, super! Inspiring, bolt and loving article!
Yes, we are the invisible friends for us!!
And yes, i receive everything, even my saddness that i have a bad cold , so i will not travel to meet you in Colorado, for the Christmas shoud! I have you in my heart!! 💖💖
Kiitos Jean jälleen! Täällä syksyn flunssayskässä kröhisten, ei niin helppoa. Ihanaa kuulla sinun kokemuksista, niin tavallista ja niiin suloista.
Hyvää joulua Enkelini!
Thank you for this very clear, delightful message, Jean. Lovely and so true. I appreciate your beautiful articles so much.
Happy holidays dear Jean! There is so much in your article, such a beauty, acceptance and love 🌸
Thank you! Greetings 🎇💖
Dearest Jean: I always read your articles and your wisdom has helped so very much. I am blessed to be spending the winter in Kona and the day we moved in I found a beautiful wooden salad bowl and immediately thought of you and the article of leaving it behind. I do not know if in fact it was yours but I want to believe it is an it makes me happy and very comfy here. Thank you for all you have given to each of us shambra and to this world. May love and light shone upon you always! Kathleen
Thank you Jean, this is exactly what I needed at this time.
Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones.
All love ❤️
Danke liebe Jean!
Hi Jean, funny that you experienced the same as me in the last few weeks… AND I’ve got the same ‘realization’ as you!
I wish you Happy Holidays❣️
🙏❤️😇💖😇❤️🙏
Thank you, what a beautiful gift…
Thank you so much <3 <3
Thank you, dearest Jean <3 Always a joy to read your post <3 Merry Christmas AND a Happy New Year <3
Thank you so very much for all of your beautifully articulated articles Jean . . . you are definitely a warm & welcoming light that frequently inspires me. The part about where you feel resistance are the places you forgot to receive really landed for me. Another perspective of Allowing. Thank you! Wishing you a wonderful resistant – free remainder of this holiday season!
Dearest Jean, I so so Love your sharing as always. It is a helpful reminder for me
these days and I will receive it fully . Thank you so much and a Happy Holiday Season
for you and your family. Much Love !
This article is
Nice gift 🎁
🙂🎄🎃
great topic and well written article Jean. You have a wonderful ability to convert your thoughts to words that makes it easy for me, the reader, to understand where you’re coming from. You may want to start you vitamin C loading a week before Christmas!
I’m so grateful with your words dear Jean! I also realized that I don’t put the receiving tool in my life. Your article was a refreshing reminder to me, thanks a lot. The last few months I had stomach issues and, as everything is first one emotion, I understood that issues was for my lack to accept things or people, not fight or try to change them, just accepting and also the act to receive all, being the river that flows, just flows. Well is time to put the receiving tool in my life too. Receive Joyful and a lot of Peace for this Christmas season!
Angie
Reading this, I felt how naturally everything just moves on.
Not as something dramatic or special, but simply as life happening — within us and around us — and then flowing forward.
Thank you, Jean. This feels very real and very free. 💖
Wow, dear Jean, that is exactly I had to remind the last days – and I receive with joy ! With love Hanna
Dear Jean, this is the best gift I could have received right now. Reading what you wrote, I couldn’t help feeling that you were writing directly to me.
Have a wonderful Christmas full of self-love and grace.
piotr roman
So magnificent love-ly, light and holiday seasoned 🙂 Thank you so much dear Jean. All the very best to you and your dear ones …
Thank you Jean. There is so much wisdom in this article. And so very, very relevant – and resonant – right now!
With huge appreciation,
Anna
PS great metaphor of the river! 💖✨🏞️
Wow. ♥️ Grateful for this 🎁
Köszönöm szépen erre van szükségem, boldog ünnepeket…..
Your sharing is a true gift and I receive. Thanks Jean.
Oh Jean, how timely and what a gift I just received reading this. With love ox
It is not what happens that hurts. It is the resistance to it. The gift of receiving. The best gift of the season. Thank you Jean.
♥️♥️♥️♥️
Dear Jean,
thank you for your article, full of clarity and wisdom.
Trusting, laying down the sword and receiving instead, that’s it—so simple, yet so challenging.
Thank you for your light.
Martin
Dear Jean
Thankyou- just what I needed to hear. So clarifying.
Gratefully Jennee
Desr Jean !
Thank you from the center of my heart! Your wisdom IS the precious gift I ever received -perfect timing 🙏💖🙏💖🙏💖🙏
Just wonderful, dear Jean! Thank you so much!!!
Thank you, Jean, for your real-life examples and the tender voice and heart you speak from. As I read this, I felt my resistance dissolve simply by receiving what was here.
Thank you Jean. I always look forward to what you write, it goes in and my being chews on it and remembers …… Ah yes! All is indeed Well. We are hard on ourselves and think awareness and all this awake stuff means perfection and being so good at the short wall. Being patient, perfect,unbothered, unruffled and all that.Well the human is not always that good at remembering to breathe first, then act. So thank you for being the enlightened one who is still very human and simply here,being all of the above gracefully and stumbling, cringing and smiling, yelling and laughing. It is truly a wonderous experience being human and well worth the ride when we live in the recieving mode whether in the rapids or the gentle flow. So thank you for the reminder, it’s not what happens,it’s how I choose to receive/perceive it. All is indeed a gift,from me to me.
Happy Season of Welcoming in Light!!
Corinne
Good morning beautiful one,
How timely & helpful especially during this Christmas season of giving, illusionary receiving.joy, laughter, 7 yes chaos & shared bugs. And what better time to truly receive all this. Yesterday’s Keahak was perfect as well.
Thank you my my heart to yours. Jen