“Always say “yes” to the present moment. What could be more futile, more insane, than to create inner resistance to what already is? what could be more insane than to oppose life itself, which is now and always now? Surrender to what is. Say ‘yes’ to life and see how life suddenly starts working for you rather than against you.”
~ Eckhart Tolle
We’ve all surrendered before. To music, to love, to pleasure. It’s something we welcome – losing ourselves in the moment, merging ourselves with the emotion, the sensation, the grand scheme and the minutia. We give in, we let go, we surrender to the flow.
But what about when life isn’t going so well?
How often do we fight against where we are at?
How often do we resist the space we find ourselves in?
No. I will not be sick. NO. I will not be upset. I will not be helpless. I will not be weary. I will not be uncertain or directionless. I will not be devoid of inspiration. I will not be apathetic or depressed, exhausted or miserable. No. NO. NO!
Oh, sweetheart. You are where you are…
Stop fighting.
Because life, you see, is what it is. You are where you are.
Why resist the truth of this moment? Why keep swimming upstream?
You are where you are.
Surrender to what is. Surrendering is not condoning this space. It is not you saying to the Universe YES, I WANT THIS AWFUL PAIN. I WANT THIS FAILURE. Or even, I DESERVE THIS TERRIBLE THING.
Surrender is simply letting go.
Right now I am sick. Right now I am hurting. Right now I am lonely. Right now things aren’t going so well…
Drop back into that river. Let the river carry you.
And it will.
When you stop fighting and let go, it becomes easier. The river carries you. You can merge with the fullness of the moment. You own the feelings. You own the truth of what is.
As you stop the struggle, be it an emotional, physical or spiritual one, you may find that you sink like a stone. Don’t panic. Haven’t you ever sunk deep into love? Didn’t you do that with reckless abandon?
At the bottom of the river it’s so quiet and still. There’s room for your frightened soul to expand again.
And as you do, you’ll rise up. Soon you’ll be floating, and the current will take you.
One morning you’ll find yourself washed up on a new shore, bathed in sunlight, caressed by a gentle breeze scented with the sweet fragrance of new possibilities.
Stop fighting.
Let go.
Surrender to what is.
And know that you are beautiful, magnificent, courageous, loved…
