We’re often told to “go with the flow” and accept what is in the moment. Even when you have no control over the events in your life, you do have control over how you respond to them. If you become aware in this very moment of how you feel, then you can learn to stop reacting and instead respond deliberately. When you do not default to a “knee jerk” reaction to circumstances, then for the most part you have the power to change how you feel and how you act.

What is surrender? The dictionary defines it as giving up, letting go, relinquishing, yielding. In spiritual terms, it means to fully accept what is without judgment – conscious acceptance. You can’t “try” to do it any more than you can “try” to be 6 feet tall or have blue eyes. Surrender has much to do with a shift from thinking and doing to being. The need to please others is then eliminated, as well as the need to resist or push against anything.

Some spiritual teachers speak about being in the flow of life, noticing and adjusting your response as you observe the world around you. Surrendering to the flow means that you can release fear and worry and instead follow the current where it leads, naturally and easily. When you encounter an eddy, you can learn to relax and allow yourself to go along with the change in the flow. It is often only during those more challenging times, those eddies, that you see the most beautiful things. We all become very aware of heroism and mass acts of kindness during natural disasters. Likewise, during turmoil in our health we find more appreciation for the little things we are still able to do.

As difficult as it may seem, getting through whatever is in front of you, even if it seems difficult to encounter, will prove to be a better choice than running away from it. And when you don’t feel you have the willingness, wisdom or strength to accept difficult challenges as they come to you, consider seeking help outside of yourself.