Learning How To Surrender

A short inspirational talk to help you release your hold on how things should be and learn the sacred art of surrendering to life's divine unfolding. Lou shares his journey letting go of his plans so that he can learn what life wanted to teach him.

Transcript

It's July and I should not be sharing this with you right now.

I should be leading a retreat in Yosemite,

California.

Instead I'm in New Jersey.

I should be preparing for a summer road trip through the Northwest,

Portland,

Yellowstone,

Montana,

But instead I'm in New Jersey.

They say when you make plans,

God laughs.

Maybe I didn't get the message in 2020,

But it's loud and clear now.

In short,

I tore my meniscus on my knee.

How?

It's incredibly ironic.

It happened,

Get this,

While I was sitting down to meditate.

Don't let anyone tell you meditation isn't as hardcore as kickboxing.

Anyway,

While I was devastated at first,

Life offers another opportunity to surrender and trust its timing.

I'm reminded of the David White quote I'm using to guide my year.

The life you can plan is too small for you to live.

The most unexpected events have the potential to be the most transformative.

The difference between bad timing and perfect timing is our perception.

We don't know what's best for us.

As we allow the rollercoaster of life to unfold,

It has the capacity to bring insight.

We open to receive the wisdom of things that we don't know,

We don't know.

When we stop planning and trust the unfolding,

We sense that life is working for the highest good.

However,

That may not always mean our highest good.

Other people and factors are at play,

Something negative happening to us,

Maybe because it will create something positive for someone else.

For example,

Not going on this retreat allowed space for someone to come who might be a facilitator in the future.

Who knows what kind of ripple that will cause in her and others' lives?

It's not our job to know.

It's our job to surrender.

How can you loosen your grip on how you think life should go?

It's tough and yes,

Foolish not to make plans.

I get it.

Goals and visions offer direction.

The point here is not to be attached or live to those plans,

Live for the future.

When our plans get shattered,

It can be a beautiful reminder to be grateful for this moment.

So I had this injury and then went to an acupuncturist and she asked me,

Why might the universe be giving you a sign to slow down?

Slowing down and appreciating the little things I certainly am,

Appreciating the ease of my voice as I share this with you,

The strength and the miracle of my right leg as it accounts for the added weight,

The ability to drive and still be somewhat mobile.

My life has shifted from then to now,

Fully surrendered to the healing process.

It's uncomfortable not to have a plan,

But remember what you can plan is too small for you to live.

There is a higher plan for you.

Mooji says the one who brought you here is taking care of you.

Trust it.

However insane the curriculum might seem.

Because really,

What other choice do we have?

As my friend Eric Wisely put it,

You either surrender or you suffer.

Sulking over what could have been or what should be is draining.

Sure,

We can feel the sadness,

Anger,

Whatever the emotion is,

But we let it pass through.

We don't stay there.

We stop swimming upstream and allow the current to guide us forward.

For today,

I invite you to let go of your thoughts of that vacation at six months.

Take a full breath,

Enjoy that sip of water,

Look at something green outside your window.

It's all unfolding just so perfectly.

Will you choose to see it?

I thank you for letting me share with you today.

I wish you so much trust and surrender for your path.

It's really beautiful as we allow life to unfold what can be in store.

I hope to connect again with you on this journey on another meditation.

There should be a meditation under this title soon.

Look out for it if you can see it.

If you want to join my circle to stay connected,

You can find me at Loo Circle.

I'd love to support your path in any way that I can.

With much love and Namaste.

Reviews

A very reassuring talk, with a beginning and ending (I find that it’s so important not to be rushed into, or abandoned at the end, of an idea!) Thank you, Lou - I hope the healing has gone well 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Hi Lou, great food for thought!
"Will I surrender or suffer?" ✨️

I loved it. A friend recommended this offering. The timing and content was perfect as I have been working on acceptance and moreso surrender. Thank you.

I've missed you my friends. I'm sorry I left and I can't believe I did. I'm back 4 good

Short and sweet reframing of change away from gripping, and grasping to allowing the flowers events with gratitude

Thank you for the reminder to slow down and enjoy! 💝🙏

Nice reminder that we all need to slow down. Thank you, Lou. Namaste 📿 🌸

What an amazing and much needed reminder. Thank you!

Confirmation of something I was taught by my grandmother. When something hard was going on in my life, she would support me through it in prayer. And she would say: Look for the blessing! Good title for a guided meditation, eh? You're welcome to use it! 😄

Thanks for sharing your story of surrender. I understand your pain and your frustration. I survived a fall from a 36’ extension ladder while attempting to rescue a kitten 17 years ago. That left me with a permanent disability but also with a gratitude for life that I still carry today. I hope that you continue to heal and to appreciate life.

Thanks, Lou! Some things are easier to surrender to than others—and some forms of surrender require intentional effort. For me, these are the harder ones—am I surrendering to one reality, or forcing another into play? Is it 52-pickup, or will the house of cards reassemble itself?

It helps to be reminded of this very important message: surrender, let go. Don't cling to what 'should have been', let the universe take care of its bigger plan for you 😇

This came at the perfect moment. I was just feeling so much frustration around things and this brought me back. Thank you! Hope you’re all healed up at this point!

So much insight in this short talk. It’s something I am struggling with now, so thank you. I also have to mention that your talk, and your words ‘it only takes one’, had the greatest impact on me during the As We Pull Through Summit. Thank you Lou. 🙏🏼

Great short talk on surrender. Love the quote about planning. Namaste 🙏

Lue I love your short talks. They are short but full of wisdom. I am new to this community and I am grateful that I find you. Keep doing good work ❤️. Namaste 🙏

So many examples of things not working out “my way” but working out better. I’ve definitely gotten comfortable with that. My angst now is global. Hard to let go of how things “should” be. Thank you for the wonderful recording.

Just what I needed as I plan for a move across the country. Love this. Thank you. Surrender will be my mantra. And love the David Whyte quote too. Thank you Lou.

It's so strange that I too am suffering from an uncomfortable, possibly injured right knee and was stressing about an upcoming travel plan. I came across this meditation and am smiling that it was so relatable and the message so clear. Thank you 🙏

Keep these wonderful talks coming Lou. Thanks for helping us attain peace and surrender