Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about seeking and receiving.

We might think of these two energies as opposite ends of a spectrum. Seeking is about going out into the world and taking what you want, while receiving is about attracting what you want to you.

If you’re like me, you might find that there are seasons of your life that are dominated by seeking and other seasons that are dominated by receiving. Or there may be certain domains of life, such as your romantic life or your work life, where you are more likely to seek or receive.

Lately I’ve been in a pretty hard core receiving mode. This isn’t unusual for me in winter – a time when I tend to slow down and circle my wagons. But even more so this year, where winter has overlapped with a larger cycle – one where I am highly reflective and open to nudges from the universe.

I think, ideally, seeking and receiving work together in a kind of dance that allows us to wriggle what we want and need out of our time here on earth. For example:

Creative Ideas

Creativity requires both seeking and receiving. Most creators talk about a process of intense study and thought, followed by a flash of inspiration that strikes when it’s least expected. It’s as if all the ideas you’ve stuffed into your brain suddenly combine in a surprising new way while your back is turned.

If you want more creativity in your life, you need both sides of the coin – you must be willing to do the serious investigation, and you also must be willing to receive inspiration.

If you’re the receiver of inspiration, who or what is doing the sending? That depends on your belief system. The seeker in this case could be God or the Universe or your own subconscious. Label it whatever you want. The experience is the same.

Relationships

Seeking and receiving both play a role in forging new relationships and also in keeping existing relationships happy and healthy.

If you’re looking to make friends or lovers or whatever, sometimes it helps to seek those people out. Other times, you need to just do you and wait for the universe to deliver the right person to your door. I’ve met amazing people by trusting this process – people I never would have met if luck and coincidence hadn’t conspired in the most awe-inspiring ways possible.

You also need a balance of seeking and receiving in relationships you already have. Affection and appreciation that’s one sided withers on the vine.  On the other hand, if you’re giving a lot and not getting much back, consider whether the other person is trying to connect with you, but you’re being a crappy receiver. Receiving requires openness and trust. Like any form of communication, tending a healthy relationship requires good expression and good listening, good giving and good receiving.

Work

As an entrepreneur, I discovered a long time ago that work (and money) comes when you need it. Somehow, when the going gets really tough, the right opportunity appears. I’ve confirmed this over and over again in talking with other entrepreneurs, so I know it’s not just me.

But it’s not enough to sit back and wait for it to happen. You’ve got to take inspired action. Be brave. Do something that might generate the resources you need. There’s a 50% chance it will work. The other 50% of the time, the money will come from a place you didn’t expect. That’s seeking and receiving in action.

What do you think? How are seeking and receiving at work in your life? Are there areas where switching from one mode to the other could shake things up in a positive way? Tell me in the comments.