I reckon there are several perceptions of “surrender”.
- Surrender is giving up. (Not necessarily true.)
- Surrender to God / Higher Power / Universe. (It works for some people.)
- Surrender to the void. (That works for some, too.)
- Surrender to Kamma or cause and effect. (That works for some.)
But what really is surrender, and how do we surrender?
This is only my understanding and perception, so please feel free to disagree.
“Surrender” initially disguised itself as “giving up” when I no longer had the energy to fight against emotions, feelings, experiences, outcomes and hopelessness.
Later, it became accepting things as they are, being aware of things without judgement, loosening certain expectations, and untangling ambitious or unrealistic hopes.
Then surrender became observing what is right in front of me, or what is happening inside me, without attachment, expectation or resistance. Just noticing things arise and pass — emotions, mental chatter, thoughts, physical sensations, visions, or anything else.
Whatever stage I have been in, I have noticed that surrender makes my life easier. It reduces emotional outbursts, softens anger, slows the momentum of spiralling into old and new scripts, and helps me create fewer new dramas.
So,
- What does surrender look like to you?
- How do you define it?
- Does it work for you?
- Have you had to adjust what surrender means over time?
- How has life changed since you began surrendering?
- Or have you ever felt that you lost your grip on it again?
With Love,
Kate