Surrender
by Sharon Marie
Surrender. That word came into my awareness the moment I thought about what to write about next. Soon after, I was looking for something on a bookshelf downstairs and was drawn to a journal. I had not opened it in years and couldn’t remember what that journal was for (as I have accumulated many journals over the years, each having their special purpose).
You know what I found when I opened that journal? A list of ‘Seven Steps of Conscious Change’. Coincidentally, the last step on the list was ‘surrender!’ This word was speaking to me. Now to listen and see what wanted to come through.
I believe this is such an important element to embrace and actively practice. The surrender I am talking about is not one of defeat or giving our power over to another, though.
This is how I see it: the world we live in is full of struggles — pushing our agendas, controlling our outcomes, or stepping on the accelerator at full speed ahead in our lives because we have deadlines and goals to achieve. Things are increasingly going faster and faster in our society that puts such tremendous stress on our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual components. How long can this last? It for sure is not a sustainable rhythm to endure.
I know for me, I feel like a pressure cooker when there are too many demands for my time, life, health, family, work, you name it. Stress, anxiety, worry, fear, disappointments, struggles, or anything other than joy can add to this. That is not how I want to feel — like holding your breath until things are done. Ultimately, I want to feel peace, have ease, grace, and flow. So, it is a barometer for me when I need to re-evaluate things and a much-needed exhale in my life.
There is a solution, though, that can lighten our load and bring peace to our lives. It’s to surrender. To finally stop fighting and resisting may be the last resort for many. Perhaps the reason is best expressed by Andrew Harvey: “Surrender is deeply misunderstood as an act of weakness. Surrender is the bravest and most lucid thing a human ever does, and that’s why it’s so precious to the Divine.”
This surrender I am talking about is described in The Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukav as such: “Take your hands off the steering wheel. Be able to say to the Universe, ‘Thy will be done,’ and allow your life to go into the hands of the Universe completely.”
Michelle Cruz says that “to surrender is not giving up the struggle, but finding peace within the struggle.”
“Surrender isn’t about being passive. It’s about being open.” — Danielle LaPorte
“Surrender is a journey from the outer turmoil to the inner peace.” — Sri Chinmoy
Surrender is the key to move through to the other side. “The moment you accept what troubles you’ve been given, the door will open,” Rumi says. This key opens the door to receiving what is next. It transforms the situation on the other side when one surrenders.
We’ve talked about what surrender is, what it isn’t, why we need it and when it occurs, but how does one surrender? Lao Tzu said, “To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders.”
In my work with clients, I have developed five ways to connect with their own inner Tranquil Being, which is very important in being able to surrender. These five ways are: 1) breathing, 2) meditation, 3) journaling, 4) movement, and 5) creation.
1) BREATH — The act of intentionally using our breath can alter our circumstances instantly, helping to calm down and slow down. Inhaling and exhaling is part of this cycle of yin-yang. What a wonderful power we have within us already.
2) MEDITATE — Meditation can be as simple as closing your eyes and following your breath.
“Meditation is a surrender, it is not a demand. It is not forcing existence your way, it is relaxing into the way existence wants you to be. It is a let-go.” — Osho
3) JOURNAL — Fill a personal journal with the writings of your heart and soul. Get it out on paper. All of it. Let the emotions flow out of you. No one ever needs to see this, so don’t hold back. Want a way to immediately transform this energy? You may want to burn it in your own releasing ceremony.
4) MOVE — Discover how your body craves to move and lean into that — whether it is running, stretching, dancing, yoga, sports, or something else.
5) CREATE — What is your heart yearning to express? There are endless ways this can look: through art, cooking, writing, music, raising a family, gardening, building a business, or more.
The reason why these five steps are so powerful is that they help get us to a point of stillness within our minds. From there, it vibrates throughout our being and ripples into our lives. When we are our own tranquil being, we are in a place of surrender. A place where we aren’t locked into outcome or circumstance. By dropping down into our heart, we connect to our soul. From this space, our inner compass, our heart fire, when we come from that place we will be in flow and always supported by the Universe. This is coming from a place of LOVE. And love heals everything.
In what ways are you called to surrender?