The Art of Surrender

A recent bout of feeling drained and stuck resulted in this article coming to life. There I was in the midst of focusing on my vision, nurturing my business, growing my dreams..then IT began to surface. Beginning as it typically does for me, I began to notice the theme of "scattered and overwhelmed." There seemed to be no way around it. I knew that I had been here before, fighting my stuck points, struggling with a cycle of frustration and judgment. I must admit it was definitely an old pattern. And then something clicked.

I decided to write about it. I was receiving the precious reminder that it is not about finding a way AROUND our stuck points. It is more about MOVING WITH AND THROUGH THEM in a mindful way, giving up the struggle and surrendering to the process. I am truly grateful for this reminder and am now choosing to call it a sweet surrender.

Believing it is time for us to fully experience the sweetness of our stuck points, I would like to offer the following tips for practicing the art of surrender.

Honor your experience. Acknowledge feeling stuck. Name it. Often times, the simple act of giving voice to it can dissipate the power it seems to be having over you. By owning what is happening, you are showing up in an empowered way, not avoiding or hiding. Instead of shutting down, you are showing up fully for your life. As a result, you shift the energy and build a foundation for moving through the experience from a place of openness, courage, aliveness and trust.

Decide how you want to BE. This is about remembering that you are not a victim to your experience, not at the mercy of your stuck feelings. Consciously choose a perspective that helps you to stay grounded and calls you forth in a powerful way. Who do you want to be in the face of the challenge? What do you want to take away from the experience? Set bold intentions and know that you have the capacity to create as much goodness as you desire from the experience.

Release judgment. Stuck points happen. They are a natural part of the process as we stretch and grow. I encourage you to JUST BE WITH THEM and have absolutely no judgment about it. What might happen from this place? What would it be like to hold a safe space for your process to unfold in whatever way it needs to, trusting that it is all good and each moment serves a purpose? It all has meaning. As you might imagine, practicing lots of self-love and compassion is particularly useful here. This is about laying the groundwork so that when the stuck points come knocking at your door, you can invite them in and be curious about the lessons they have come to deliver. You can relax. You realize they are only here for a visit, not to stay.

Be awake for the message. What is the experience trying to tell you? What do you need? Our struggles with stuck points are highly effective at shining light on where we need to put our attention. They can be quite revealing, providing priceless information to help us clarify the changes or adjustments that would allow for deeper fulfillment or success. Every experience we have in life offers an opportunity to learn. How receptive are you?

Listen to your body. Pay extra special attention to how you might be holding in your body the energy of feeling stuck. Where are you feeling a need for release? What would support you in letting go? For example, you might consider a massage, dancing, taking a long walk, or enjoying a bubble bath. Be aware of what works wonders for you, and dedicate time to those activities that stir fresh energy within you.

Reach out for support. Be careful not to isolate or let your inner critic run the show. You might be familiar with a voice that tells you feeling stuck is proof that you must be doing something wrong, you are a failure, you are not good enough. No time for listening to that nonsense! Instead, connect with others who understand how important it is to engage with your whole journey, to embrace stuck points for what they are while also taking action to move beyond them when the time is right. Stay in touch with those who hold you as the naturally creative, resourceful and whole person that you are. What relationships in your life offer support in this way? If this is missing for you, how invested are you in designing that for yourself? And what might be a first step?

In closing, I encourage you to keep the following quote by Karla McLaren in mind.

"Emotions are celebrated and repressed, analyzed and medicated, adored and ignored..but rarely, if ever, are they honored."

May you be inspired to honor your stuck points as the sacred experiences that they are in your journey.

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The Art of Surrender

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