Letting Go: The Pathway To Surrender

Are you currently carrying a heavy load of past regrets, persistent anxieties, or looming doubts? Do they ever weigh you down, making each step forward feel harder than it should be? This emotional baggage is something many of us unknowingly cling to, which can cause us to feel miserable, and worse, can even negatively impact our wellbeing.

Letting go is a transformative journey that invites us to release emotions, thoughts, and attachments that no longer serve our well-being. It's a two-way process that involves releasing judgments, fears, or guilt surrounding the emotion. Then, once that's accomplished, the focus shifts to the emotion itself. The aim is not to indulge in endless thoughts, which are merely the mind's attempts to rationalize the feeling, but to remain present with the emotion until its energy dissipates.

Imagine your thoughts as a goldfish swimming in a bowl, going round and round without end. But underneath, the water remains calm and untouched. This water represents our true self—steady and aware, despite the chaos above. As we practice letting go, we start to realize that we are not defined by our passing thoughts or feelings. We are the calm observers, just watching these thoughts come and go.

The journey to letting go, while it may sound simple, is not always straightforward. Our ego, that voice inside that loves to hold onto control, often resists this process. This resistance might show up as doubt, avoidance, or distractions. But it's important to recognize that such resistance is itself a sign of progress; it indicates that the ego feels threatened and is losing its grip. So, instead of becoming disheartened by these challenges, we must use them as opportunities to further release and surrender.

When we practice letting go, we're essentially unburdening ourselves from the shackles of negative emotions and societal programming. As we release these, the results can be subtle yet profoundly transformative. Not only does it lead to feelings of lightness and freedom, but it also fosters a state where we're no longer bound by external factors for our happiness. This detachment allows us to enjoy the world around us without being enslaved by it.

Our past is like a book of stories. While we can't change what's written in there, we can always choose how we interpret and read it. Do we let every word weigh us down with sadness and regret, or do we find the lessons in each page and grow from them?

Everyone has moments from their past that linger in the present. These lingering feelings can shape our perspectives and may even limit our potential. But should we let these memories dictate our lives?

One powerful way to heal from the past is by recontextualizing those events. Viktor Frankl, a famous psychiatrist, shared this approach in his book "Man’s Search for Meaning." He believed that by giving these disheartening events new meaning, we can heal from them. Frankl himself survived a Nazi concentration camp and found strength by seeing his suffering as a chance to grow internally.

Similarly, you can apply this reframing technique to move beyond setbacks. Let's say you've lost a job and are feeling down. Instead of dwelling on the loss, consider the possibilities: perhaps that job wasn’t the right fit, or maybe it didn't align with your ultimate goals. Viewing the job loss as an opportunity could lead you to a more fulfilling career path.

By overcoming these challenges, we can also become stronger and more confident. For example, after facing the fear of job loss and overcoming it, you might be more daring and innovative in your next job. Facing a big challenge also helps us understand ourselves better. During tough times, we're forced to reflect on our beliefs and goals, which can lead to positive change.

Apathy and depression are common emotions that many of us face. They manifest as feelings of hopelessness and an overwhelming belief that one is powerless to change their circumstances or seek help. Such feelings often surface in thoughts like "What's the point?" or "I can't win." But have you ever stopped to wonder what lies beneath these feelings?

Behind the mask of hopelessness often hide deeper emotions—fear, pride, or embarrassment. These are the strings pulling at our souls, dictating how we feel and react. To heal, we need to gently untangle these strings and understand the emotions at their core.

When we often say, "I can't," it might not truly reflect our abilities. Instead, it mirrors the beliefs we've held onto for so long that we've accepted them as truth. Dive deep into your heart, and you might discover that many of your "I can'ts" are actually "I won'ts." They're choices, conscious or unconscious, that we make rather than imposed limitations. Recognizing this subtle but crucial difference can be transformative. Instead of feeling like a helpless victim of circumstance, you can start seeing yourself as an empowered individual with choices.

Moreover, when we're swamped with feelings of apathy and depression, it's tempting to point fingers, to blame others or even ourselves. Sure, blame might offer a momentary sense of relief. But in the long run, it can anchor us to anger and bitterness. Breaking free means releasing this blame, shifting from being swayed by our emotions to mastering them.

When we remove the room for negativity, like blame, we make space for light – feelings of gratitude, generosity, and love. This shift doesn't just change our mood; it reconnects us to our "Higher Self"— an inner core of positivity, potential, and power.

Grief is a universal emotion, shared by every human being at some point in life. It is the profound sense of sadness that comes from losing something or someone important to us. Many people, especially men, are used to hiding their grief because they fear appearing weak and vulnerable. But holding onto grief can be even more harmful. They can intensify our distress and may even manifest as health issues.

The anguish of grief often stems from our attachments—whether to people, objects, or ideals that mean a lot to us. The deeper our dependence on these bonds for contentment, the greater the pain when they are no longer present. For example, parents may grapple with a sense of emptiness when their children grow up and move out. Similarly, an individual might find retirement challenging, as they miss feeling needed at work.

Nevertheless, there are effective ways to navigate through grief. Recognizing it, pinpointing its roots, embracing unconditional love, and addressing any feelings of inadequacy are essential steps towards healing.

Fear is an emotion that stems from our basic need to protect ourselves and survive. Because we commonly perceive fear as something negative, we develop coping mechanisms to counteract those fears. And when our usual methods of dealing with fear don't work, we become very anxious. Sometimes, we might even take medications, like tranquilizers, to help us feel calmer.

But is there another way to overcome these fears? Well, there is.

We can figure that out by first taking a look at the case of Betty. Betty was extremely afraid of germs, which led her to fear almost everything else. The outside world felt dangerous, and she was scared of falling ill. Despite trying numerous treatments to overcome these fears, nothing truly helped. It was in these moments of despair that her doctor came up with an idea. Instead of another treatment, he simply sent her kind and loving thoughts. Surprisingly, this act of sending love started to help Betty improve.

What we can learn from Betty's story is the incredible power of love. Love, a strong and pure emotion, can help combat other emotions like fear. It's like when someone really cares about you, it can make you feel safe. Great figures in history, like Mother Teresa, have shown how powerful selfless love can be. Some might think stories of love's healing powers are just special or miraculous events. But others believe it's the natural effect of love. Just like how the sun can clear away clouds and darkness, love can push away negative feelings and fear. However, for love's healing effect to last, we need to continually embrace and strengthen it in our lives.

We all encounter moments of anger in our lives. Think about the times when someone cut you off in traffic, when your efforts at work went unnoticed, or when a close friend disregarded your feelings. These instances may sometimes stir emotions that can be hard to shake off.

Often, many people feel guilty about their anger and seek to justify it rather than admitting they’re simply filled with rage. But burying or denying anger may negatively affect our health and well-being. A healthier approach to this is to harness its energy positively. For example, resentment at work could inspire someone to excel in a project or explore better opportunities. In personal spheres, too, anger can drive improvements in communication or self-growth.

The roots of anger are diverse and deep-seated. It's frequently intertwined with other feelings, such as fear, pride, or vanity. One common spark for anger is feeling our sacrifices aren’t reciprocated. Imagine a wife spending her day making their home lovely while her husband has a taxing day at work. If he comes home and overlooks her efforts, she might feel mad for not recognizing her sacrifices. Similarly, the husband might also feel unacknowledged for his efforts. Such mutual yearnings for validation can strain the relationship.

When our actions stem from a place of self-sacrifice, it's vital to release the yearning for validation. Instead, we need to learn how to cherish the genuine act of giving and take solace in the innate joy it brings.

Pride is a destructive emotion that can take many forms, such as being over-confident, opinionated, boastful, vain, self-centered, complacent, aloof, smug, snobbish, prejudiced, bigoted, pious, contemptuous, selfish, unforgiving, spoiled, rigid, patronizing, judgmental, and in milder forms, pigeonholing. He states that pride blocks growth and development, and people are willing to sacrifice any aspect of life on the altar of pride. He also believes that male pride about those programs that society considers masculine blocks the emotional and psychological inner development of most men in society. Pride is characterized by defensiveness and vulnerability, and it dissipates energy. According to Hawkins, the humble person cannot be humiliated for they are immune to vulnerability, having let go of pride. Genuine self-esteem does not actually arise until pride is relinquished. He concludes that that which inflates the ego does not result in inner strength.

David R. Hawkins believes that courage is the knowledge and feeling of being able to do something. It is a positive state in which one feels confident, competent, and alive, with a general enthusiasm for life. Courage involves taking risks and letting go of what is familiar. It also involves being able to admit mistakes without feeling guilty or blaming oneself. People who have courage have a strong sense of self-worth and are respected by others. They are the doers of the world, as they know that they can provide for their own needs and the needs of others if they put in the effort.

David R. Hawkins also states that discovering the power of stillness and peace within us can bring us greater happiness and benefit others. This power can be found in moments of perfect stillness and peace, in which one has great clarity, understanding, and heightened sensitivity to beauty. This power is beyond the chaos of the world and one's own mind. It is a realm of peace that is always available and can be accessed through moments of perfect stillness and peace.

David R. Hawkins believes that acceptance is a state of peace and contentment that allows one to feel connected to others, joyful, and relaxed. It is a state in which one can be themselves without feeling the need to change anything. Compassion for others and being generous and nurturing can be experienced without feeling of sacrifice. Love is understood as a stable state and the source of love is within oneself.

The great teachers have said that the negativity which is seen in a person or in society is really due to a lack of understanding, knowledge, and awareness. It is possible to look past character flaws and see the innocent child within. If cornered, a person will attack and bite, as they just don't know any better.

Acceptance is the key to inner harmony and peace. It is the state of being in which one can forgive their own past and that of others, and heal past resentments. It is possible to create a different perspective from which to view the past and thereby heal it. With the completion of the level of acceptance, one feels secure about the future and can move on to the levels of love and peace. Reason and logic become tools for the fulfillment of that potential. Guilt, which accompanies all judgments against others and oneself, is eliminated. Physicality can be enjoyed without moralistic aversion or compulsive self-gratification. Others are accepted for having come to their understanding of life and their ethical views in a way that makes sense to them, even if their beliefs and behaviors are quite different from one's own.

According to David R. Hawkins, love is a way of being that is expressed when we let go of any blocks that prevent us from experiencing it. We can all contribute to the beauty and harmony of the world by being kind to all living things and supporting the human spirit. What we give to life will come back to us, as we are all part of it. Love can be expressed in many ways, from a child reciting a song taught to them by their parent, to a sailor steering a ship through a storm, to a doctor praying for their patients without them knowing.

Love is more than an emotion or thought, it is a state of being. It is characterized by warmth, gratitude, appreciation, humility, completion, vision, purity of motive, and sweetness. Unconditional love is the key to a better life, and research has shown that having a pet can extend the owner's life by ten years. Love has a powerful anabolic effect and increases endorphins, which are life-enhancing hormones. It also has the capacity to heal bodies when conditions are appropriate. On the physical level, because of the prevailing positive mental state, physical illnesses often resolve themselves. People can also gain an intuitive understanding that replaces “thinkingness”.

David R. Hawkins states that unconditional love (calibrates at 540) is rare and occurs in only .04% of the population. This energy is miraculous, inclusive, nonselective, transformative, unlimited, effortless, radiant, devotional, saintly, diffuse, merciful, and selfless.

David R. Hawkins has experienced moments of profound peace, where time and the world seem to suddenly stop. By continually surrendering, he suggests that one can begin to experience these states of peace more and more often. Surrendering is the key to uncovering the true nature of our existence, and by reaching higher states of lovingness and peace within ourselves, we can become a saving presence in the world.