For some the idea of surrender is a
difficult one – it conjures up images of loss of control,
giving authority over to someone else, forgoing pleasure, or even
giving up responsibility for living a purposeful life. Surrender
is a word we associate with the battlefield, of “crying Uncle”
in a wrestling match, or of allowing a bully to take control.
The reality of soulful surrender, however, has little to do with
these violent images. Soulful surrender is about entering a state
of grace – of living in harmony and attunement with the qualities
of our higher Self. It is one of recognizing where the human ego
creates fears and limiting beliefs about who we are, and deciding
nonetheless to speak and live from a deeper, at times mysterious,
truth.
Certain beliefs tend to block our willingness to surrender on the
soul level: We conjure up images of a divine puppeteer who decides
our fate irrespective of our wishes; others maintain that it is
unsafe to let go of ego-control; others assert that life events
are the result of “chance, fate or coincidence”; and
still others find it hard to conceive of the notion that we are
all connected at a spiritual level.
In many ways it is not a surprise that we are afraid of losing our
individual sense of control. We spend much of our life trying to
build a strong sense of self. In fact, it is a necessary stage of
our soul journey to develop a sense of confidence and self-esteem
in relation to the world. The ego helps us to have influence, direction
and control in a world that believes in the separated self.
The ego’s main illusion is that we are separate independent
beings, both from each other and from Spirit. This belief supports
the evolutionary idea of survival of the fittest and the need for
hierarchy and power over others. For a time the more we accumulate
and the more power we assume gives a sense of greater security.
The ego’s main purpose is to survive and it does so by nurturing
attachments to possessions, personal beliefs and relationships.
All loss (even the loss of an idea or belief) is seen as a threat
to survival of the ego. From the ego’s perspective, competition,
and self-interest are absolutely necessary to maintain survival.
However, as one matures along a soul centred path we start to see
that attachment to the individual ego’s needs creates increasing
dissatisfaction. The satisfaction of accomplishment/power and material
accumulation is at best temporary - there is a continual threat
of someone else’s ego who also wants to accomplish, have power
or accumulate possessions. There is no end to this fear, both on
a personal and societal level. The idea of surrender to a less conscious,
soulful part of us stirs up these very fears while at the same time
offering a new paradigm of being that by passes all these fears.
The promise of soulful surrender makes available gifts that allow
for the fullest expression of who we are as spirit beings in a human
body. Surrender means living in attunement with a divine Source
and the opportunity to co-create and live out the qualities of Spirit
that channel through us.
Surrender nurtures a sense of harmony and connection to others.
We find that discernment, wisdom and deep knowing begin to replace
judgement and criticism. Fear itself is replaced by deep, abiding
faith that everything is proceeding according to Divine plan. A
natural compassion and deep willingness to alleviate suffering replaces
the need for power and striving. Competition is replaced by cooperation,
fair play and forgiveness. There is a new sense of knowing your
own truth and an ability to express your truth without fear. As
you give up the illusion of separateness, you develop deeper emotional
intimacy in the awareness of the unity of all beings and a new and
deep sense of belonging. A sense of contentment with what is and
living in the Now replaces fear for the future.
May be copied/distributed only with permission
Grace Ross - Soulground Centre for Spiritual Healing |
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