In surrendering we are freeing ourselves and tapping into the tremendous power of love, with all its healing, comforting, and nurturing.
For many, the adage “Let go, and let God,” is a vital part of existence. This is a simple but powerful appeal to practice acceptance, to act with courage, and to have discernment between that over which we have power, and that over which we do not.
Twelve-step programs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, rely on the principle of turning over one’s life to a higher power. There are no religious requirements regarding the identity of this higher power—the higher power could even be a lightbulb.
Surrendering does not mean relinquishing independence and identity, to be ruled over in some way. By going within to get in touch with that spiritual core, this “turning over” process is accomplished through invocation of our “higher soul,” as that higher power.
What is most important is not to feel responsible for overpowering and driving every event in one’s life, but to release it and trust that the higher power will play a role in overcoming ego for the higher benefit of our soul/being. We are not ultimately responsible for complying with every demand from our ego.
Practicing gratitude through prayer or meditation every day reinforces our connection to a higher power. Even when life brings challenges and we wrestle with finances, health, and family issues, it is vital to focus on doing everything we can to nurture our souls and trust in our connection with a higher life force.
We can find, through the associated spiritual growth, that we have tremendous ability to manage our lives. It starts with an understanding that our wisdom of discrimination and discernment originates from within.
PRACTICE
In your daily practice, implement a one-word intention of “trust” or “allowing.” Imagine what it would feel like to know with complete certainty that all is well.
Years ago I had a dream that I was at a political event where President George W. Bush was speaking. Few people showed up and those who did were jeering him. In reality, he still had substantial support in the U.S. at this time. I was close enough to the stage to see that the expression on his face indicated that he was quite distraught by this. He then looked directly at me from the podium where he was standing. Then suddenly, our eyes and only our eyes, no bodies or faces, were separated by just a few inches as we continued looking directly at each another. Next, it was as if we both looked through and beyond each other’s eyes and deep into the other’s soul. It also seemed as if there was a third, yet not visible, presence with us. Then it was as though we were one, not two (or three?) separate beings completely immersed in a non-physical spiritual state; floating in pure love. All was white, not a brilliant white light, just pure white; there was no differentiation separating us. It was the most beautiful feeling I have ever experienced and it lasted a bit even as I awoke from the dream.
When I had this dream I was quite active politically with the Democratic Party here in Colorado and, at that time and still to this day, George Bush was so exceedingly disliked among Democrats to the extent of being reviled. Many Americans felt his international, environmental and economic policies seemed intent on sending the entire world in a wrong-and dangerous direction. These sentiments were felt even more strongly outside the U.S. beginning with his administration’s determination to invade Iraq. At political gatherings my fellow Democrats and I were severe and relentless in our criticisms of Mr. Bush.
I believe I dreamt of George Bush in this situation not so much because of who he was but rather because of what he symbolized. In my judgment, he was quite possibly the most dangerous world leader at that time given the scope and potential outcome of his influence; particularly involving the invasion of Iraq. Yet, I could not deny that the dream of he and I together, seeing beyond the body, and beyond the body’s eyes, and experiencing our souls as one immersed in the peace and love of God was a message from a higher source (the third presence perhaps?) about all our inherently true, pure nature regardless of the opinions and judgments one holds of another, or others, and no matter how justified they seem. Following the dream, I could no longer engage in political discussions and criticisms about President Bush without the memory of it jumping to the fore of my thoughts, for I was shown a higher truth replacing any political affiliations and positions I previously considered meaningful.
P.S. I am no longer a Democrat.
I can stay diligent in my 12 step program. I am powerless over the events surrounding my husband’s passing. I am madly in love with him and I am having a hard time surredering and turning it over. I think there are times when I will have these kinds of despairing feelings. It’s about grief and the feelings should come and go. When I am in the grip of it I need to remind myself that feelings can be very strong, then change. I’d like to believe we are all made to recover and live with loss.
Blessings, Eben and Karen.
Dear Anne
I am writing this in 2023 having lost my most beloved husband of 42 years in June 2022, and every word you have written resonates with me, reducing me to tears.
I do hope you will see this response and answer me, because I would LOVE to know whether you have found the path to acceptance. I am desperately grieving for my beloved David, because we were ONE throughout our many years of marriage, after a genuine ‘love at first sight’ event when we first met. Without him I feel torn apart, and despite everything I do to accept and surrender, I spend my days and nights in agony, missing his voice, his wisdom, his gentleness, his amazing wit and laughter, and his embraces..
I never stopped being madly in love with him, and in my darkest moments I wonder how God could have torn him from me and not taken me with him. My two adult children know what I am going through; they are incredibly supportive, but they know that nothing can fill this gaping void in my life. I feel so guilty because I can’t give them the support they need, who are also mourning their wonderful father.
I meditate, pray and grieve, grieve, pray and meditate… Life is dire, though I try and strive to accept, relinquish, and believe.
Tell me, Anne, does ever get more bearable? :’-(
Hi there,
I have a book for you that might actually not might I know it will give you peace and even joy. Please read it.
Love to you x
Only love is real by Brian Weiss
Hi there,
Please read it.
Love to you x
Only love is real by Brian Weiss
Struggling, beating your chest, & any other non-sense in light of a setback at any level comes from humanity’s lack of perspective: I have learned over & over that, w/ a little time & patience, I will see the good that comes out of any unpleasant situation. I broke 2 cervical & 2 thoracic bones in a boating accident in 2008, yet by the time I had left the rehab hospital, I could honestly say I wouldn’t have missed the experience for the world. I came to know who my true friends were, was strengthened in my faith that all will be well, & was amazed at how lucky I was in so many other ways. I remember my extreme reluctance to accept the testimony given by, at that time, the longest surviving AIDS victim. He said that even though he suffered terrible fevers & other agonizing conditions, had to take piles of pills each day, often had no energy, he wouldn’t change a thing. Yet, today, I take the same attitude in dealing w/ people: look for the good in them & soon enough, you’ll see it. Everything will be all right!
I struggled with surrender for a long time until I experienced what as far as I can tell is the truth about it: When I surrender, I am only giving up smallness for greatness. I am giving up being 1% myself and becoming one with the 99% of the rest of myself. I am not surrendering responsibility for my actions. I am not surrendering anything but littleness for expansion. And the wonderful thing about it is that my little self is included! It is not thrown away. I am not giving up anything but a tiny perspective. I am giving up a meager database for a really super duper supercomputer. Upon surrender, my little self, my ego, can now do the true job for which it was intended: to carry out the desires and fulfill the path my own greater consciousness wishes to follow. My little self is no longer cast upon the winds of change fearing for its survival. It actually has gained mastery and is captain of this earth vessel, but it can do it from knowledge rather than fear. The ego is not the devil in disguise. It is just the eye of the soul into this aspect of reality, and when it surrenders to greater Self, the lens of its vision clears and it can see its way, and it finds its power. Before surrender, the ego grasps for power with futility. After surrender, the doors of perception cleansed, the ego knows power as something that is everywhere, every when, and freely available as needed for the purposes of the soul. Never fear surrender!!!
I love this.
Hi, everibody, good day to all.
I see doubts about surrender. But this is because no one has ever really told us how life really works and how we should behave to be happy, or better yet, what the mission of our stay here on earth is really. Everyone, parents, family, schools, society only cared to build an ego of the new citizens (developing babies) that was compatible with the demands of society. The religions gave hints, but they never made it clear how everything worked, because no one really knew. Knowledge was coming in scattered and disconnected pieces. Science even threw a spade of lime over the teachings of the churches. Fortunately, however, this same science created the conditions so that mystics, spiritualists, and scientists themselves could begin to explain the Reality of Life in a rational way for us (without the need for Faith). We are learning. I see Science on the one hand, with Eben and Amit Goswami doing their part, and I see superior spirits being able to explain rationally (as Christ in their letters, from the 2000s) the functioning of Life and our Life Mission, as spiritual beings who have come to this planet to carry out their development work, characterized as human beings, who possess an ego with artificial intelligence.
This is the key point. We need to learn to surrender our ego (horse) to our true Self (knight), spiritual, bud of the Creator. It’s because? As I have written before: to restore the full flow of vital energy into our being. We as bulbs in an electric circuit, having the light flowing in our interior, we verify that due to oxidation and dirt in the contacts there are occurring restrictions to this energy flow. And that we need to eliminate these oxidations and filths by purifying our mind and consciousness (shifting thoughts and emotions of low energy level to those of high energetic vibration, spiritualizing), and changing our egoic behavior (limiting, partial, imperfect) by that of unconditional love (the best antioxidant) in our lives, with the help of the eternal Father who accompanies us continually, but for whom the ego does not have the slightest regard because it feels superior. We need to re-establish the Vital energy flow, and thus be free from all our illnesses and unhappiness.
I learned theoretical knowledge. Now I am struggling to bring about the necessary changes. We have to practice and go through experiences. And for this I ask daily for the help and guidance of the Source of Life. I need to do my part (surrender, shut up my ego), so that the Source of Life can act freely. Expressing Himself through me. Fred Carson on August 30, 2018, and Bozena October 14, 2017 took the words out of my mouth.
Yes, let Life lead me. May Thy will be done, Father, and not my will (of the ego).
Nona
I understand you sinicism. However I now am trusting, allowing, surrendering to knowing love and understanding that material things cannot bring me joy or happiness, this concept will allow me some peace in my life.
My mother left the family home when I was 5, my brother 2. We were bought up by my father with help from my grandparents.
My mother, aunts and Grandmother all walked away from our lives, one whole side of my family never had any further contact with us. It was a bereavement beyond compare!
Our life was a struggle, my father worked part time in a manual job with very little money, the strain was overwhelming for him. My early adult life was a little chaotic, I could not settle, almost punishing myself. I eventually married and have children and life has had its ups and downs as most, I am a police officer and after having had a breakdown at work through the pressure and trauma of the work I do I had counselling and EMDR. It became apparent that I have grappled with PTSD my whole life due to the loss of my family at such an early age.
I went and found my mother when I was 25yrs, at first this was a good thing but never really got the answers I was looking for and although I kept in contact, still spent the next 25yrs grappling with my emotions over this experiance.
The funny thing is my mother is now a born again Christian and has told me years ago that my only way to any salvation is to become a Christian, this did not help my internal battle and have now had to distance myself however still have contact with her.
I guess my point is after all the damage and trauma, I have forgiveness, I have love, I continue to help others in and out of my work, I am by no means perfect but try to be kind and do the best I can. I realise I don’t have to align myself with a religion to find peace.
I was on the outside looking in but have always tried to be loving, help others, give kindness, have compassion and be accepting. I have my own family now and have been blessed.
Through all lifes difficulties you can surrender or trust that in the end you are loved, have belief in you, it’s a difficult journey and one I’m still working on and probably will until this journey closes.
I have to wonder how humanity who live on the edge, on the streets homeless, non-white, out of work, experiencing illnesses, family death and loss in proportions that decimate the heart of a family, community and Country really buy into this millennial white collar blessing of surrender. While well-off indviduals for whom the “system” works victims of the same “system” are on the outside looking in with nothing left to surrender. Veterans of the military and police forces, all of whom pledged to serve and protect are committing suicide every hour of every day around the “civilized” world. They’ve already surrendered their integrity long before giving up the last breath they hold dear. Why does the idea of the beauty of “surrender” not resonate here.
Exactly the message I needed today. Thank you so much!
Again, thank you so much for your valuable information. I have given words of thanks to Dr. Alexander before but Karen is also a huge part of this as well, thus, THANK YOU KAREN!
I love your voice on the audio book and the meditation mp3 I purchased; your like a warm nurturing friend, an angel 🙂
Wishing both of you much love and light during this winter Solstice and full moon,
Thank you and God bless you for sharing this knowledge.
Manish
“Surrender”. What a lovely word that is.
But how difficult it is to truly surrender to and act on (or sometimes to even hear) that soft, gentle, beautiful voice of the Loving God within whose only interest is that we flourish, grow and fulfil our lives in every possible way and which encourages us to help our loved ones and those around us to do so too. And how easy it is to listen to and follow that beguiling, loud and harsh voice of our egos, constantly demanding attention, wanting to push us to the front, trampling others underfoot and hungrily demanding more and more and more until it leaves us desolate, hopeless and alone in life.
The whole of this life seems to me to be a continual struggle between the forces of Light ever calling us upwards towards heaven and the forces of darkness relentlessly pulling us down into the earth.
Thank God for groups such as this and many blessings on Eben and Karen for putting it all together. So many sincere and heartfelt stories from those participating to warm and lift our spirits. Thank you everyone……………….😊
I would like to thank you very much for this course, for all the wisdom and love.
🙏🏻 Dorien
I know there’s one more day left to this course. However, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank both Eben and Karen for their work. This course, along with the books, ‘proof of heaven’, ‘map of heaven’ and (I’ve just started to read) ‘living in a mindful universe’ has been such a huge inspiration and education. Although I’m not quite there with the meditational side of things, I have sensed a huge excitement within as I’ve relished this refreshing insight to who we are, who’s we are and our true purpose to this life. Thank you!
X
Thank God for a poWEr greater than myself… Let Go Let God humbles me to ask for help and trust and believe. My Father Angelo use to say “we are all in God’s hands.” My dad was a powerful example of surrender… he and my beloved Mother raised 11 children and because of his gratitude for God taking care of the family he surrendered on a daily basis… this is what I have to do to grow and prosper… surrender and one day at a time live daily with these spiritual principles in alignment of God’s will.
Thank you Michael for sharing this beautiful and personal story of your father’s surrender. I know that when I fail to surrender in certain situations that arise in my life, that I am causing my own struggle as I am taken away from a place of contentment. These are powerful and yet simplistic words… let go and let god.
Wow. The Universe has such amazing timing it just makes me smile. My mom has struggled with alcoholism half my life. When her struggle was reaching a tipping point this weekend, God sent me countless signs of encouragement and assurance. Today my mom entered treatment for the very first time. I’ve missed several day of meditation with all the moving parts to today’s admittance to the facility. What a perfect way to wind down and celebrate today’s victory when I read today’s topic. I can just hear God saying I told you I’ve got this. 💕
Great!
Beginning is just that…beginning. This is hard. Pray, pray, pray.
Many are successful and become “has been” drunks. Celebrate every minute, then every hour, every day, every week every month, every year.
My friend drank away two fortunes before AA. Then he met God and had 30 plus years of marvelous celebrations of a joyful life. Encourage. Pray.
Surrender was a hard thing for me until I wrote my first destiny statement of “Learning to Trust Myself and to Trust in God” It took me a 12 months to learn this another 1 year to put in practice. I have learned to trust and if something comes that makes me uneasy, I surrender to the uneasy and look at it as a lesson that God is teaching me. Sometimes we can manifest things and it is there and if not, I know My Divine is moving things around getting it ready to come later with more than I could have ever dreamed of or if it does not, it is not of the highest good for me! My daily meditation keeps me clear, focus, and at peace. Joellyn, I agree with your statement, I am thankful for each person participating in Karen & Eben Journey with everyone’s insight of each topic. Deb Karen & Eben, Thank you for writing the book, creating a journey for all of us to participate in and holding the light for the world especially at this critical time period as the divine trys to awaken as many people as possible for our ascension process. In my visions, I see the world of love, peace and joy for all, as the Polarity will no longer be in the future. We will have the higher conscious state that God intended us to have. Sending blessings….
What is left to say after experiencing this heart enriching journey of the depth of mind and consciousness. Shall we repeat the steps daily? Thank you Eben and Karen.
How much I have longed for beeing reminded of what I all the time have known! Thank you Eben and Karen for all your help! What Karen wrote about the puppies was important for me.
“know with complete certainty that ALL IS WELL”. “Imagine what that would feel like”: Glorious beyond description. May that KNOWING flow. Eben found it, brought it back to ground it. May every human being absorb it, beam it, live it, as he does with it. With great appreciation this one’s heart and mind absorb it, seeks and seeks to let all go and truly know it. Each day that dawns implores it. Peace on Earth, Goodwill to all and we can do it. Namaste. Good day from Oz. MJ. 7.34am Oct 16
I have lived with this principle for many years, it has served me well, when I get my ego(easing God out) out of the way things work out better than I could have wished for. It is an awesome way to live because when I did this, I went from hating life, to loving every moment I am alive. Namaste, Love and Light, Greg MacIntyre
Surrender…not my will but Thine be done…being at a sort of crossroads in my life…surrender is how I attempt to live. Each day I surrender my life into the hands of my guardian angel…asking him/her to have it unfold perfectly…as I do not know what that is or how to make that happen. I understand that as adults, we must ask for assistance. The angels will not intrude unbidden. So each day…I ask…surrendering myself into his/her hands…trusting. It is humbling and freeing at the same time.
We are so close to the end of this journey. I want to thank Eben, Karen and each person who chose to respond. Truly we are one…many facets of the same gem and it has been a sincere pleasure to know you each…just a little bit.
Another observation, friends. Listening to our Radio Two programme this Sunday morning, the presenter was talking about Kindness to strangers and there are some very moving stories. It hit me, “We are the stuff that God is made of” I am on a roll here, all we have to ( be ) is that kindness, the doing naturally follows. Love. M.
Dear Eben, I have had some inspirational writing given to me, about 230 words. Would there be room to add it to comments on the last day, please? If not, I will pass it onto you next month. Love M.
Yes, Teresa, those words reminded me of Julian too. Such comforting words, there is an assurance, a stillness, a knowing about them, isn’t there? It has taken me many decades to come to this realization; in 2010 actually. I can recollect the exact occasion. It was a complete turn around. I no longer, get in my own way! Is there anyone within this course living in the UK or further afield who would like to keep in touch after these 33 days? We are linked, no doubt about it, anyway, especially been brought together by Eben, Karen and team, mustn’t forget the team! Much love to everyone. Margaret.
Going to look into Julian Norwich’s work. Reminds me of a loving kindness meditation. I’m further afield in the US.
Mind mystery–how we are unique and the same in so many ways. Need to purchase the book and take tinyp bites of this life-enriching material. Priscilla
Reminds me of Julian of Norwich’s wisdom that “all will be well and all will be well and all manner of thing will be well”. So hard to relinquish the illusion of control and just trust.
It takes practice, nothing is happening over night.
I’d learned the hard way in my early 20s to listen/surrender.
Since then, I clearly see that my life on the planet Earth is a well prepared plan, sort of a computer program. Simple but very detailed and precise with a lot of “if {” and “} else {“statements:
if(boolean_expression) {
// statement(s) will execute if the boolean expression is true
} else {
// statement(s) will execute if the boolean expression is false
}
because I DO have the FREE WILL.
It’s evident that my Angels/Guides are with me helping to stay in the “if {” statements. They know me very well and they know how to push my buttons.
And if I need to be spanked
they spank me, and pull my ear,
and warned me, and reward me.
I trust them!