What's so good about surrendering?

No trust falls. No bungee jumping. No throwing your hands up in the air. Unless those are your thing, then by all means. You do you.

What I’m talking about it the subtle art of letting go and allowing the winds of life to weave its magic. Allowing nature to just do its thing. I’m talking about internal surrender. Wouldn’t that be nice? After what can feel like endless days, weeks or even years of all of those inner battles and resistance? Those mental pains and anxieties? To just let go?

You’re probably thinking, “sure, letting go, but for what purpose?” Or “I’ve tried that woo-woo stuff, it doesn’t work.” Or “Ok I’ve told myself to surrender, now what?” Hear me out.

Have a scenario in your mind that you’ve been hanging on to, or fighting with, or dwelling on for ages.

What if you stopped, and surrendered, to nature… that same force that balances the tides, turns seasons, creates life. Surely that same force of nature is capable of bringing opportunities or moments to us that we need. But we have to do our part, and let go first.

I can honestly say, as a person who takes pride in the amount of things I think I can control, this was hard. Well, it still is hard - constantly, I freely admit. Control and surrender don’t really work well together. Trying to control the outcome of things, the timing of things and lots of micro tasks is exhausting and a terrible waste of energy. After reaching the end of yet another tether, the beautiful, cycle of nature again reminds me of the lesson to surrender. Just release the grip a little, and soon, even let go.

I have been reminded time and time again to put my intentions out there, take the action that I can, and then let go. Yes set goals. Yes aim high. Yes work hard. All of these things still have a place. But so often, as is the cycle of life, my only job left was to let go.

Surrender is not giving up, nor is it lazy or apathetic. Far from it. Surrender takes an enormous amount of courage. Often we are only capable of doing so once the agony of trying to control the direction or outcome of things becomes too much. Reaching that point ironically can become liberating… being able to accept that there’s truly nothing more you can do other than surrender it up, is the catalyst. It opens the flow.

It also takes this ever-mounting pressure off that we place on ourselves. This pressure can then add up to feel like anxiety, sleeplessness, ruminating or intrusive thoughts, obsessiveness or depression. I know how I’d prefer to feel and to spend my time, energy and days.

If we could remember this lesson in surrender just a tad before we reach complete worn-out point, we may in fact not have to limp across our invisible finish lines. We may be able to conserve and reinvest that energy into other things that bring us and others joy. And we may in turn have slightly lighter, more easeful minds, thoughts and mental health states.

So, I reckon that’s a pretty good reason to give this surrender business a go.