The Harmony of Give & Take
Hello all,
Welcome back to our beautiful, chaotic, and messy shores. I hope you’re feeling healthy, happy, and peace. Reflecting back from our last journal “Upside Down”, life lately has been moving very fast and has been a little bit overwhelming for myself. Aside from releasing my first poetry book, I am still very much in school (which I'm almost done with thankfully), and have settled into my first apartment… which has given me some different and new perspectives on life. However, one perspective, and I guess you could say mindset, that I have learned and have been impacted by greatly over the last few weeks is reciprocity.
When it comes to reciprocity, I think a lot of us hold the surface-level belief that it is the idea of simply giving back or matching energy. However, it goes much deeper than that. Reciprocity as a mindset involves the internal belief that a mutual exchange is important in relationships. What’s interesting about this to me is how this mindset can also encourage ourselves, as individuals, to adopt a sense of responsibility within our interactions with one-another. For example, when we see how our actions can impact others, we feel a moral obligation to contribute a more positive factor within our interactions. I, personally, find so much power in learning this sense of responsibility because by doing so, we are better able to understand and figure out that if we give support, kindness, etc… we are likely to receive it in return. It’s almost like we can create our own reality in a way…
Now, let’s dive into how reciprocity holds its place as a form of perception. Reciprocity plays a major role in how we interpret interactions and relationships. When we perceive reciprocity, we then also recognize and begin to understand the give-and-take foundation of our connections with other individuals, which also influences our behaviors and expectations. What is so powerful about seeing this as a perspective, is how it can better help us in understanding the importance of mutual support. Which can further guide us in how we engage with those around us.
However, what can reciprocity look like for someone who is too much of a giver? As I am writing this, I’m beginning to reflect on my own give-and-take nature. I am someone who is very much a giver… if I could, I would give everyone around me the entire world without asking for, or expecting a single penny back. But this is something that has gotten me very much in trouble with myself, my mind, and my emotions. For an individual who is too much of a giver, reciprocity can be a bit more challenging. When an individual continuously gives without receiving, or even finding anything in return, feelings of imbalance or resentment may begin to rise overtime. However, one power that I have learned and have begun to rely on during times of imbalance reciprocity, is boundaries. Pairing boundaries with reciprocity is essential for creating a crystal clear understanding of what is acceptable in a relationship and what is not. By allowing yourself to set boundaries, you are also allowing yourself and the other individual to communicate any needs or limitations.
As we wrap up this journal entry, I encourage you to reflect on your own experiences with reciprocity. How does it shape your relationships? Are there areas where you can create more balance or boundaries?
Thank you so much for taking your time and energy to read this week’s journal. I appreciate it more than I can honestly express and I appreciate you more than you could ever imagine… Make sure to sail these beautiful, chaotic, messy shores back here this Saturday for a new lengthy poem…
With great love always,
M.H. John