We’re often told to “accept what is.” Surrendering to the idea that “this present moment” just IS can lead to increased serenity. You may have no control over circumstances you encounter but you do have control over your responses.
What It Means to Surrender
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. We can’t “try” to do it any more than we can “try” to be 6 feet tall or have blue eyes. Surrender has much to do with a shift from thinking and doing and controlling, to being. We eliminate the need to please others or to resist or push against anything.
Finding Grace in the Flow
Some spiritual teachers speak about being in the flow of life. Surrendering to the flow means that we can release fear and worry and instead follow the current where it leads, naturally and easily. When we encounter an eddy, we can learn to relax and allow ourselves to go along with the change in the flow. It is often only during those more challenging times, those eddies, that we see the most beautiful things. During natural disasters we see heroism and mass acts of kindness. During turmoil in our health we find more appreciation for the little things we are still able to do.
Choosing Acceptance Over Resistance
As difficult as it may seem, getting through whatever is in front of us, even if it seems difficult to encounter, will prove to be a better choice than running away from it. Here are some suggestions.
- When something unsettling happens, do not try to analyze it or find out “why.” Instead, accept that it did happen, deal with it, and understand what it can teach you.
- Focus on maintaining inner peace, in whatever healthy way you need to do that. Meditate, read, take a walk, journal, stroke a pet, breathe deeply.
- Become aware of and accept your feelings about a situation. You may not like it, you may prefer something different … it is human to feel initial anger or fear. The point of acceptance is to move past those emotions.
However, if you are faced with a challenge that seems impossible to accept, that is the time to reach out for support. We at Soul Wisdom Therapy are here for you through chronic illness therapy.