In each life there comes at least one moment which, if recognized and seized, transforms the course of that life forever. Rely, therefore, on radical trust, even though the moment may call for you to leap empty-handed into the void.
Ralph H. Blum
Surrender means to relinquish, yield, or let go. For us humans, surrender takes radical trust, acceptance, courage, a clear intention and willingness to meet life on life’s terms. Surrender requires that I honor both my Humanness and my Divinity and demands total trust in myself and my innate ability to sit in the fire of transformation regardless of what’s going on around me.
When I am surrendering, I practice radical trust. I delve into a deep kind of knowing that all is well right this moment regardless of the circumstances. If I need to find physical safety for myself, I do that first. Then I breathe into the moment and go into the depths of peace within. Outside of me, the storm may be whirling, but inside I surrender to the calm place of safety within the storm.
Surrender means I take full responsibility for how I feel and the way I process life’s events. Rather than trying so hard to control outcomes the way I want them to turn out, when I surrender, I come into a place of acceptance about what I can and cannot change. In this way I am taking responsibility for what is, how I feel about it and the actions I might take that are appropriate.
Surrender: I Decide What/Who Has Power Over Me
People and events can be hurtful—sometimes mean, disrespectful, hateful and challenging. By being in acceptance and taking responsibility for how I feel, I can explore my feelings and come to rest with them. This doesn’t mean that harmful people and events are okay. I’m saying that by finding acceptance and surrendering to what is happening and how I respond to it, these occurrences do not have power over me. I decide!
Surrender is the simple but profound wisdom of yielding to rather than opposing the flow of life.
Eckhart Tolle
If mistakes are made, there is no fault, life just happens. We are each accountable for our choices, but there’s no blame. Focusing on my responsibility means I practice honestly facing my own part. I surrender to my perfectly imperfect Humanness. It’s not an excuse, being human is a gift I’ve been given to have all these experiences on this spiritual path.
Surrender: Walking Through the Doorway to Emotional Freedom
We humans possess the innate wisdom and ability to choose the life we want–this is what emotional freedom means. Yes, as many teachers have said, pain is an inevitable part of life, but suffering is always our choice.
When I am suffering, my ego insists on closing the door to self-compassion, I shut down my heart, want to run and hide, and then fear takes over and continues the cycle of suffering. Suffering is our resistance to life’s flow. When we hold on to the story of how we’ve been wronged, for example, we are suffering. When we blame other people or events for our discomfort, we are suffering.
This is not how I want to live, because this cycle of suffering is actually dishonoring my own Divinity. Today, my intention is to live a life of true compassion and love. Where love and compassion doesn’t exist in me, that is where my work is.
Surrender opens the window and allows the suffering to leave, dissolve, vanish, allowing us to release ourselves from the bondage of the past. This is emotional freedom.
Surrender: A Practice
Surrender is not hard, the difficulty is only because many of us are not used to doing this–we think that the suffering is just part of life and that we are powerless–not true!
Here are some reminders of ways to bring our nervous system back into balance and out of reactivity:
Breath-work: Two of my favorite methods routines
—Inhale to the count of four, hold for one count and exhale to the count of eight
—Inhale deeply and slowly from the bottom of your spine, imagine the breath moving up to the top of your head, hold (notice the tension) and when you exhale, blow it out hard
Body awareness meditation: A technique that helps me to know when my nervous system and emotional body are out of balance
Walking: Doing a slow meditative walk in nature, noticing the trees, birds, breeze, whatever is around–this also brings me into presence
Journaling: An excellent way to inquire into what is going on for me emotionally
We have a choice, always: to suffer or surrender. What will you choose? I am here to support any who wish to let go of fear and suffering and move into a life of compassion and loving kindness. I offer a safe sacred space for us to jump, hand in hand, into the vastness of love and life together.
Surrender to what is.
Sonia Ricotti
Let go of what was.
Have faith in what will be.