Born to Receive: Seven Powerful Steps Women Can Take Today to Reclaim Their Half of the Universe

by Amanda Owen

Discover the seven secrets women can use to get ahead in the world!
  This book from consultant-coach Amanda Owen (author of The Power of Receiving ) presents self-improvement strategies for women and a radically different approach to helping them achieve their goals, reduce stress, and create better health and happiness by using the power that already exists within them. Born to Receive offers women seven effective, practical steps that they can integrate easily into their daily lives and includes inspiring examples of women who have changed their lives for the better by tapping into their receptive power. With exercises, special tips, and resources throughout, this book provides life-changing advice with a simple it’s okay to receive!

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help

First published March 6, 2014

About the author

Amanda Owen is the author of "The Power of Receiving: A Revolutionary Approach to Giving Yourself the Life You Want and Deserve" (Tarcher/Penguin, 2011) and "Born to Receive: 7 Steps Women Can Take Today to Reclaim Their Half of the Universe" (Tarcher/Penguin, 2014)

With a background in social work and a twenty-five year practice as a counselor, Amanda has been presenting lectures and workshops since the mid-eighties.

N.Y. Times best-selling author Christiane Northrup, MD calls Amanda’s power-of-receiving philosophy “brilliant, elegant, profound, and enormously practical,” Maria Shriver calls her work “insightful,” and Elaine Shamos, the Director of The Women's Health Resource Center at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center says “Amanda's presentation skills are outstanding and, most importantly, her message is life-changing.”

Connect with Amanda at www.AmandaOwen.com

Reviews

[Libby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book at the urging of my therapist, not realizing that it was built off another book that the author had previously published on the subject. I am not sure if this accounts for the shallow feeling associated with the way the author skimmed the surface of certain topics or the dismissive tone with which the author treated others that deserved more weight. Either way, if you can get passed the bland, white feminist delivery, there are definitely some positive takeaways that most of the women I know, myself included, would stand to benefit from. The information presented wasn't revelatory, but offered helpful reminders and food for thought.

[Sangjun · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loooooooooved this book. The author meets the reader with empathy instead of preaching what they should think or how they should act. I appreciate the summary of the seven steps at the end of the book as well as a concise reminder of how to implement the steps in our daily lives. Since I started reading this book, I began showing up differently to work on myself and be more open to receiving; it's been a real game changer, and I am excited to see how consistency with these steps will continue to make a positive difference in my life.

[Jill Celeste · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bet you are an amazing Giver. You like to give presents. You like to nurture. If you someone needs assistance, you help in a second. You give, give, and give.

I also bet you’re not a great Receiver, and that’s why your life feels out of whack.

You see: When you became a better Receiver, you are setting yourself up for better success. You will achieve your goals (including financial ones) easier. Lower stress, better health, increased happiness, and amazing empowerment all await if you take the time to Receive better. And that’s exactly what Born to Receive will teach you.

Women who want to get louder need to take up more space in The Universe. I love the subtitle to Amanda Owen’s book Born To Receive: 7 Powerful Steps Women Can Take Today to Reclaim Their Half of the Universe. YES! Here are the seven steps Amanda takes you through:

1. Pay attention to your feelings and trust your intuition
2. Know what you want
3. Ask for help and accept it when it’s offered
4. Be grateful and say thank you
5. Create full reciprocity in your relationships
6. Don’t put yourself last or you won’t last
7. Be respectful to the past, have a vision for your future, but live in the moment

Don’t you feel empowered reading this list? Amanda’s exercises and pep talks are even more empowering. This is a book you will highlight, take notes in, and use Post-It Notes on numerous pages.

My big takeaways:

#1: Speak up and share what you’re feeling

On age 46, Amanda asks: “Do you push down your feelings because speaking up would risk conflict, cause discomfort, or disappoint someone?” Dangit, YES!

When you squelch your feelings, you are not in a Receiving State, which is the place you need to manifest what you want. It’s not healthy for your body and your friendships; not to mention, you are worthy of expressing your opinions.

#2: Get help before you absolutely need it

In my house, I do most of the domestic chores. After reading this section of Born To Receive, I am committed to change. Not only because it’s the right thing to do, but when I don’t get the help I need, it disrupts the balance between Giver and Receiver. For some people, including me, asking for help takes practice, but as you do, you will strengthen your asking powers. As you get in balance, you will begin to receive more amazing stuff. Sign me up!

#3: Conflict is part of life

My comfort zone is a conflict-free one. I was raised in a house with two parents who fought verbally – sometimes saying nasty things to each other – and their fighting made me uncomfortable (and sometimes scared). My childhood shaped me into a person who avoids conflict. I would rather do something myself, or bite my tongue, or sit and stew about something, than speak up and create conflict.

I am working on this, for sure, and getting better. My first step? Acknowledging that conflict is part of life. We can’t avoid conflicts – and we shouldn’t.

How Born To Receive relates to entrepreneurs:

Born To Receive is a self-help book that is a must-read for female entrepreneurs who want to get louder with their businesses. To get louder, you must be good at receiving. Receiving compensation, compliments, criticism, referrals, applause, boos – it’s all part of the territory. With the tools taught in this book, you will be able to handle getting louder with more confidence. Not only that, you will feel better.

If you are ready to uplevel your business, then read Born to Receive to first uplevel your mindset. With a primed Receiver muscle, you will be ready to accept the most amazing things.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a super quick, easy read about the power of opening up to receive everything the Universe has to offer. While I thought Owen made some good points about the self-help industry and women's obsession with self-esteem, she put way too much emphasis on blaming other people for our feelings. I kept waiting for her to talk about personal responsibility and the many ways we can feel better without needing anyone else to do the dishes or take out the garbage, but it never came.

I also wanted more of an in-depth discussion of certain topics that were glossed over. It's as though I was reading a lengthy magazine article on the topic of receiving, rather than a fully fleshed-out book.

[LemontreeLime · Rating 3 out of 5]

It surprised me to find out this book was written after the power of receiving. I wondered if this was the one that publishers told the author wouldn’t sell, it’s too sensible. Well It’s good. And has good questions.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a hard read because it was just drawn out repetition throughout. If it takes you time to understand her first few pages don’t worry she is going to repeat it over and over in different ways until it sticks.

[Mariah W · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. Short & easy to read, I like the way the author organized the information. Simple, yet profound information on moving closer to a life you want & how to get it.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big fan . Her work including "The Power Of Receiving",is incredibly deep and insightful and assuredly begin to change your life.

[Destiny Bultena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn’t grab my attention immediately, but I ended up getting helpful reminders about the importance of reviving

[Rachel Brune · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in preparation for hosting an interview with the author on my blog. I enjoyed the information, which is presented in short, easily digestible chunks, which can be read straight through (as I did), or dipped into here and there. The book also contains exercises, activities, and inspirational quotes that fit each of the six steps towards improving one's capacity to "receive." The author here is not simply referring to the activity of obtaining something, but rather addresses the need to balance outgoing and incoming energy in one's life. Throughout, the author references many examples of women in history, and many of the steps she advises, while aimed at women, could be of use to any group of people who are more used to giving others what they want instead of finding out how to receive what they need.

There were a few things here and there - at some points the author equates size with health (a trigger for me), and also uses Cinderella as an example, which didn't do much for me personally. However, this is more than balanced by the many wonderful examples of strong women throughout history.

I would definitely recommend this book, and I don't say that about many books in this genre!

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got this as a good reads giveaway. I liked it, but still processing it and will write a full review shortly! Here are my thoughts so far, though:

This was a quick read, but one that I will probably read again within the month.

The part I liked most was about asking for what you want. I think I definitely fall into that category in relationships where I put everyone else's needs/wants in front of mine to the point where I usually can't even identify what I want because my default answer is always "Whatever makes you happy." I really loved some of the insight I got from this book - I'm not indecisive, I just try so hard to please others that I'm totally out of touch with what I want most of the time. After reading this, I been able to notice it a lot more lately; I'll be in a situation I don't want to be in but won't make my desires, needs, or wants known and instead just "suffer" because it's making someone else happy and I don't want to interrupt with that. I think that part hit me pretty hard and hence as re-read is needed to leave a review on the rest of the book.

There were some religious sections to the book that I didn't particularly care for as a secular being.

[Cece]

Born to Receive is a wonderful book to read. I recommend this book to anyone. This book hit key pionts in my life that i struggle with. This book have the tools you need to reduce stress and to live a healty happy life. I am so grateful for this book. Hope you to enjoy it.

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another beautiful book from Amanda Owen that builds on her first book, The Power of Receiving.