FIVE REASONS TO SURRENDER
Many talk about the beauty of surrender and about how ‘letting go’ helps you de-stress and evolve, however what does the concept actually mean (and why does it seem so daunting?)
In her book, A Return to Love, Marianne Williamson writes that, “Surrender means, by definition, giving up attachment to results”. In essence, when you surrender, you stop fighting with the universe and allow the natural state of flow to take over. It requires a tremendous amount of acceptance and faith and yet once you have mastered it, many say it has given them far more inner strength. I’ll admit that I’m still learning the art of surrender as it’s not a concept that comes naturally to me. In fact, I spent most of my 20s trying to control as many external things as possible, thinking that this was the right approach if I was to achieve the most out of life. The idea of relinquishing control and surrendering never even crossed my mind. Instead, I fought with the universe, not understanding that with such an egoistical concept often comes drama and suffering. Today, my whole way of thinking has transformed and I’m realizing that ‘going with the flow’ is far more beneficial. Here are five good reasons to surrender…
1.If you observe closely, isn’t it amazing how the universe works? It often gives us signals, but the question is, are we actually listening? We can train our minds to pick up on these indicators. To take note of the pebble before it becomes a brick or a mountain of rocks. We don’t need to wait until something dramatic happens before we change our approach. However, there is no need to let shortness of breath become a full-blown heart attack. We can choose to surrender to the universe today and listen to the messages and lessons along the way.
2. I’m learning that the energy of surrender achieves far more than the energy of control. For instance, when I let a situation ‘just be’, my breathing is slow and relaxed, my mind is calm and my expectations are reduced. If on the other hand, I am hell bent on a certain result, the thoughts in my head become agitated. What if the outcome I’m after doesn’t happen? With disturbed headspace, my breath is shallow and my chest feels constricted. Instead of limiting our thinking, we have the choice to surrender and trust that the universe has our best interests at heart.
3. Surrender is not about inaction. It’s about taking action from a place where you exert surrender rather than a controlling energy. It feels better. Control freaks often succumb to health problems since they are always battling to exert control over external events. Becoming aware is the first step. Notice when you’re in control mode and then consciously choosing to let go so that you move into this surrender energy. Ultimately the universe, Mother Nature and the law of karma is far more powerful than any human being. Peace of mind comes when we accept that we can control our reaction to events rather than the events themselves.
4. To my surprise I’ve noticed that life is far more smooth and worry-free when we stop trying so hard. That’s not to say we don’t put in an effort, it just means we are less attached to specific ideas of how we should be living. When something is not going your way, maybe there is a reason that isn’t apparent at the time. Stop, listen and see why there might be a block and instead of fighting it, think of creative ways to work with it or get around it.
5. Einstein said, “The most important decision we make is whether we believe we live in a friendly or hostile universe.” Once we start working with rather than against the world, everything falls into place. If you think about it when you surf or sail, you don’t fight the waves – you’d never get anywhere – instead, you ride the waves and go with the flow of the ocean. The same goes for everyday life – once you start to surrender and trust your intuition, you become more stronger not weaker. Surrender is an empowering state of being. It gives us freedom and liberation. Once you let go the whole world begins to blossom. Like the author and intuitive healer Annette Duveroth says, “In total surrender of the ego, the transformation of our vibration unfolds by itself, to levels far beyond our imagination.”
