MONTHLY ARTICLE

    March Edition 2007

    Surrender and Release

    Affirmation: "I willing release everyone and everything, my spirit is free"

    Surrender and release or letting go is something which is currently close to home for me this month. I have found myself faced with a series of challenges and change and at times I have felt like I was losing control of my normally happy world. Whilst chatting on one of my regular phone conservations with my best friend Pam in Florida and I was mentioning to her a whole list of challenges and the frustrations I was feeling and eventually she said “You know what Ange – sometimes you just have to let go and let God.” At hearing that statement I suddenly felt every muscle in my body tightening, I realised and knew in an instance that I was firmly in the grip of holding on too tightly to the very things I wanted so much.

    A dear friend and colleague of mine Maureen always uses the following analogy to me and clients when she feels we need to let go. She describes holding a small rubber ball in the palm of our hand and squeezing the shape out of it – Maureen says it is not until we release our grip that the ball can return to its original shape, form and purpose. A very good description I think of what happens when we try to control things.

    When there is a need to surrender and release it normally means that we have been trying to fix or change situations or people singlehandly. When we find the courage to surrender it simply means that we are tired of struggling.  It also means we are emotionally letting go with faith that a higher force (God, the Universe our Higher Self) can do a better job. Surrendering does not mean we are giving up or that we want to be controlled.

    When we let go we are assured of a better outcome – than we would be if we simply held on. It also means that we release tension and unhealthy emotions and that we are allowing and believing that things will get better.

    Whenever I am struggling I always find that the following inspirational quotation comes spookily to my attention:

     

    LET GO AND LET GOD

    To let go doesn’t mean you stop caring, it just means I can’t do it for someone else.  To let go is not to cut myself off, it’s the realisation that I don’t control them.  To let go is not to enable, but to allow learning from natural consequences.  To let go is to admit my powerlessness, which means the outcome is out of my hands.  To let go is not to try and change or blame another, I can only change myself.  To let go is not to care for, but to care about; not to fix, but to be supportive; not to judge, but to allow another to be a human being.  To let go is not to be in the middle arranging all the outcomes, but to allow others to effect their own outcomes.  To let go is not to be protective, but to permit another to face reality.  To let go is not to deny, but to accept.  To let go is not to nag, scold or argue, but to search out my own shortcomings and correct them.  To let go is not to adjust everything to my desires, but to take each day as it comes and cherish each moment.  To let go is not to criticise and regulate anyone, but to try to become what I dream I can be.  To let go is not to regret the past, but to grow and live for the future.  To let go is to fear less and love more.  To let go – is to let God!

    So if you find yourself in a place and in the grips of losing control and the need to let go try this:

    Find a quiet place, close your eyes and take several deep breaths until you feel relaxed and calm. Then quietly affirm to your “I willing surrender and release” or “I willingly let go of (name of person or situation). Continue affirming until you feel you have really let go – until you feel the release of tension from your whole body. Note: Whenever you feel like taking hold of the reigns again – just remember to keep affirming.

    When you let go or surrender you will find what normally happens is that the situation miraculously improves and answers, solutions, resources and people suddenly start to show up. WOW the power of letting go.

    Wishing You Much Success until next month - it's a biggie FORGIVENESS.

    Angela