August 2023: The Process of Surrender

Hello, August -

It's unbelievable how quickly the past month has gone by, and as always, summer seems to pass in the blink of an eye. Despite the busy travel schedule and work commitments, I managed to make the most of my time and energy. The concept of surrender kept coming to mind, and I found myself revisiting it over and over again.

I spent the first part of July in Ecuador. While it was beautiful, transformative, and memorable - all good things come with complexity. On both my flights there and back, I ended up delayed and missed connecting flights, which resulted in overnight stays in Dallas. This meant lost time, wasted money, and a domino effect of shifts in my plans for that week. There's nothing quite like an unexpected change in plans to through your practice in serenity out the window! Only this time, the discombobulation didn't last long.

In previous years, I have bawled and begged airline staff to let me on a taxing plane...which never resulted in entry on the plane, or a positive interaction. This time, I spent about 10 minutes in frustration and then surrendered. To surrender is one of the most liberating things we can do. It doesn't mean we like the outcome or prefer it, but it does mean we recognize our powerlessness as humans to the forces that may be - weather, airlines, traffic, pain, etc.

The process of surrender looks like this for me:

1. Recognition that I am not in control.

2. Reminding myself that I don't always know what's best or needed on my journey

3. Zooming out to the bigger picture - will this impact me in a week, month, year?

4. Acceptance rather than resistance.

5. To find the meaning and/or positive interpretation of the experience.

Surrender is a practice - much like meditation, exercise, or learning something new. Every time we turn resistance into resilience, we strengthen that muscle; which ultimately makes it easier the next time. It's preparation for the next disappointment or devastation that life will surely serve up. For today, I am sending you strength and tolerance for any challenge that comes your way.

Enjoy a few peaceful moments during my time in Ecuador below.

 Lucy