I did a group today on strokes which are units of recognition.  These are emotional units and  important to human beings.  They can be negative, positive, conditional, unconditional, verbal or non-verbal.  Its was so interesting the discomfort at taking positives freely.  That being able to absorb them and really believe that they are true or that we are entitled to them is not that easy or natural. The group was really willing to go with the process and be honest about what they felt about the exchange of strokes and linked this to parts of their life script.  Through childhood we can be taught that to absorb positives can be boastful or not appropriate.  Yet we all need them for survival.