Surrender, surrender, surrender.  There’s really no other choice right now.  We don’t have control and we never did.  While we never actually have control, we usually have much more of an illusion of that in our lives. 

We’re able to have a fairly consistent routine, we can choose where to go, what to eat, who to talk to.  We can control our environments, our day to day activities fairly well.  Some people go through their whole lives in a pretty comfortable, easy way without much disruption or crisis.

Others of us understand what it’s like to not have control.  Some of us have been through many things in our lives that have helped awaken us to the understanding that control is an illusion.

This can sometimes be death, or disease, or other events that can bring us to the end of what our ego knows and understands as reality.  When this breaks downs and we are forced to let go, we realize on the other side that there is so much more freedom!

For those who understand what I’m talking about here, this current time that we’re in may not feel quite as scary as it may for others who have up until now been living a more sheltered existence.  Those of us that have been through it and have been able to grow through a transformative experience are moving through this current crisis in an easier way.

We understand that the only way to move through it with peace is to surrender.  To practice presence.  To remind ourselves that this is all a learning process, a process of awakening our consciousness and practicing expansion by letting go.

We can look back and remember that through the darkest losses and crisis’s have come our greatest lessons and transformations.  That this is the way the ego is recognized for what it is and loses its control over our higher self.

We remember that forcing our will doesn’t work.  That only in the allowing, the flowing and the surrendering do miracles happen.  That with compassion, and grace and stillness miracles occur.

So many people right now I feel are on either side of this divide.  Either releasing and surrendering and expanding and trusting that we will all get through this in a positive way or contracting and gripping and forcing and controlling out of a sense of fear that looks like control.

So many people I’m talking to want to know when this will be over and what things will look like on the other side.  I mean I totally get that, of course it’s human nature to want to understand what the future will hold.  Will we be safe?  Will we be healthy?  Will we have enough?

Letting go is the only way to move through this in a peaceful way.  Of course, we all need to continue practicing good hygiene and distancing and all of the protocol that is recommended right now, for the safety and health of everyone.

At the same time, the more we can collectively be letting go and practicing being at peace, the easier this will be for everyone.

Some tips on surrendering and harmonizing your energy right now:

Awareness:

Check in with your body once an hour.

If you notice anything tight, breath into it.  Remind that part of your body to relax into the knowing that all is well.

Creating awareness of the tension in your body and releasing allows you to much more easily create consistency in your practices without resistance.

Consistency:

The best way to stay in a state of surrender instead of control is maintaining a consistent practice no matter what.

This allows your parasympathetic nervous system to be in charge most of the time, keeping you calm, peaceful and rational.

When you don’t maintain your practices, especially right now, it’s easy to slip back into fear and feeling the need to control.

All of the practices here are designed to keep you in your natural, peaceful responsive state, that already knows it’s ok to let go, there’s nothing to fear!

Spiritual Practice:

Whatever your belief system, there are ways to connect with the feeling of letting go and surrendering to something larger than yourself.

You can visualize and feel yourself holding Jesus’ hand, or sitting on an angel’s lap, or hugging the Buddha, or your grandmother kissing you from the other side, or a beautiful river or tree is supporting you spiritually.

Find ways that you can personally connect to that help you remember that we are always surrounded and loved.  We can relax into this feeling.

Affirmations:

Bring in affirmations first thing in the morning, and multiple times a day.

Repeat to yourself, silently or aloud “I surrender, I surrender, I surrender”

“I get out of the way and allow the Universe to support me”

“I am always aligned with the divine, and all is well”

Practicing affirmations relaxes your body and reminds your energy that it doesn’t have to live in a fearful fight or flight response all day long.

Energy Practices:

We are made of energy and have the power to shift our energetic fields with conscious intention.

To bring in the remembrance that you are always surrounded, protected and guided by source energy, practice consciously surrounding yourself with light throughout the day.

Imagine all of the cells in your body are opening up like flowers, they are energy sponges, attracting all the light and energy you could ever need, there is nothing to fear.

Another way to bring in the energy of surrender is to imagine the crown chakra on the top of your head.  Imagine it opening, an allowing all of the light from the universe to flow in.

You can let go in the understanding that this light will take care of you, all is always well.

Meditation:

Daily meditation is key right now.

One practice to release control is to get relaxed, take some deep breaths to start.

Then imagine your auric field, lighting up outside of your body.  This field is now expanding, and expanding, first filling the room, then your house, your community, your country, the world, and expanding into the universe.

Feeling as if you are one and connected with all that is, a piece of the divine.  Let go and surrender into this feeling.

Practice this at least once a day to remind your body of the feeling of surrender.

There is nothing to fear, we are all learning so much through this time.  We will get through this and be stronger on the other side.  When you feel like you have surrendered, surrender some more!

Read more about Spiritual Counseling with Shana Olmstead.