Surrender is always a bit of a tricky subject to get one’s head around, and most often the ideas of “surrender”, “being present” and even “meditation” elicit the image of floating around in a state of bliss, removed from life’s problems.
Matt Kahn does a great job describing the difference between resisting life and surrendering to life when he says, “meditation is what happens when negotiation dissolves…” this applies equally to “surrender” and “being present” as well.
“In order to become a willing participant, you have to know what it means to be an unwilling participant. An unwilling participant is one who is attempting to avoid the gravity of surrender, who is negotiating with life instead of opening to it. In the old spiritual paradigm, it would be seen as a form of contemplation. But in order for true insight to dawn, we must ask how our lives are only changing us for the better with no further negotiations in mind. Within this Golden Rule is the opportunity to discover meditation from a different perspective. Oftentimes, when we try to meditate, we likely find a quiet space, close our eyes, and begin negotiating for more preferable circumstances. Meditation is not negotiation. Meditation is what happens when negotiation dissolves. Negotiating with life is to assume that what’s happening is a mistake. Remember the Golden Rule, “the Universe always has a plan”? If the Universe always has a plan, then any form of negotiating could only veer you off your highest path. When you are embodying this Golden Rule, you are cultivating the soul’s attribute of stillness. The ego lives to negotiate, but the ego isn’t capable of being still. This is why if your ego is attempting to meditate, it’s likely an internal negotiation with the beauty of empty space.” – Matt Kahn
This teaching from Matt can directly be applied to the way in which we pray too. How often does a prayer sound something like, “God please help me to avoid the things that I’m struggling to deal with…” and so even during a very sincere prayer we’re shrinking away from our fears and asking to be kept small and weak.
My wish for you is not that your struggles magically disappear, but that you find yourself opening up fully to your life, becoming a willing participant and letting all negotiating and bargaining with life dissolve. Asking in every moment, “what does this moment ask me to step up and do… what does this moment make available to me…?”
May your prayer be, “God give me the strength to lean in, to open up and to grow. Please show me where to take action and where to let go…”
As you embark on your journey of personal growth, remember these guiding mantras for self-reflection:
- Let go of resistance. Surrender to the flow of life.
- Embrace your challenges. See them as opportunities for growth.
- Trust the universe. Believe that everything happens for a reason.
- Live in the present moment. Find joy in the simple things.
- Surrender your ego. Let go of your need for control.
You’re invited to join us in today’s silent meditation. May you find your way to surrender, and discover just how powerful your actions become as a willing participant in life.
– pierre –
Today’s LIVE meditation is: Finding silence.