“Surrender is a journey from outer turmoil to inner peace.” Sri Chinmoy
Living in a society that constantly teaches us that we must have everything under control, practicing the art of surrender and letting go to cultivate peace of mind can be something distant from our reality.
Letting go of things is often related to failure, defeat, and every negative word that can come with it. But the truth is, sometimes we hold on so tightly to things, and we don’t even know why.
That is why learning to let go of the illusion of control and surrender, trusting that what happens is what it was supposed to happen, is a necessary step towards our well-being and inner peace.
Letting go is a practice. Check out 4 ways to let go and surrender to cultivate peace of mind.
1. Be in the present moment
The first thing you need to do when trying to let go of control is to be in the present moment. This means you are willing to accept that you cannot control the future nor change the past. When you focus on the present moment, you learn that you only have the now, and therefore, there is no need to control or hold on to something so tightly it cannot breathe. Learning how to breathe, be in the now, and surrender to the Universe, God, or whatever spiritual source you believe is to trust that what is meant to be will be. And this is one of the secrets to achieving inner peace and wellness.
2. Make meditation a frequent practice
A great way to be in the present moment is to meditate. Making this a frequent practice is essential to learn how to give up control, achieve a peaceful state of mind, and better connect with your inner being. Meditating involves slowing down your thoughts, breathing out your fears, and developing self-knowledge. When you meditate, you can better understand your limitations and expectations over things. Therefore, incorporating this practice into your daily life will help you let go of things that have been holding you back.
3. Count on your support network
Many times, surrendering means learning how to ask for the help of others and count on your support network. In life, there are some moments where we don’t know if we will be able to handle certain circumstances, simply because we are so far into it that we cannot see a way out. At those times, counting on the people you love and listening to other perspectives on the matter is essential to achieve peace of mind and let go of control. Do not be afraid or ashamed to ask for help and rely on people you trust. This is a sign of bravery!
4. Write, write, and write some more!
If there is a habit you should add to your life to learn how to surrender and let go of control, this habit is writing. Writing is a powerful tool to expand our horizons, clear our heads, organize our thoughts and get some self-knowledge. Sometimes our inside looks like a mess, and we don’t know how to find ways to improve. In these moments, writing down our thoughts can be just what we need. This practice can help you take that controlling feeling in your mind and put it on paper, letting go of control and accepting that keeping everything inside will not bring you wellness. This is a habit to adopt for life.