What Is Surrender?

by Devi Ishaya

We have surely heard or read the word ‘surrender’ in many different ways and forms throughout our lives. But surrender to what? How? In what way? Or is it perhaps like in Game of Thrones, where surrender means seeking a truce in the midst of war, hoping that the conflicts will cease and peace will come?

We can create so many fascinating hypothetical stories in our minds about what surrender means in world history and in our own lives. However, true surrender came into my life in a different way, unexpectedly, leading me to experience a perpetually unshakeable peace that anchors me in this wonderful present.

Surrender, in my experience, is as deep and infinite as the eternity of the horizon itself, because it has to do with setting aside everything we ‘know’ or think we know—such as family and social structures and belief systems—to allow ourselves to arrive unconditionally, with open arms, to what is new, learning to live life from our highest potential in conscious and absolute recognition of who we really are.

I am really enjoying sharing my experience with you through this article, the intimacy that exists in every word filled with warmth and presence in this moment.

Likewise, being Emilio’s mum is the most beautiful experience I have ever had in my life, but being a ‘conscious mum’ and choosing to be present in my life has made a huge difference for me, because constantly experiencing unconditional love is, for me, living to my full potential.

Opportunities To Give More And To Love More

That does not mean that everything is always rosy. Surely there are many mums reading this right now, but every situation that arises in my daily life, no matter what it is or how it looks, has become an opportunity to get to know myself better, to give more, to love more.

Or I can also decide to argue or fight with the fact that I do not like that situation and prefer to change it, because that way ‘then’ I will feel better.

And it is precisely at that moment that the choice not to focus my attention on the ‘whys’ or ‘hows’ or ‘whens’ has given me the opportunity to discover that allowing myself to choose to be present means the same thing as surrendering the idea or belief that something has to change for me to be happy, or that something has to be different for me to be a better mum.

And the reality is that nothing has had to change outside of me or you for us to live and experience our full potential. Everything happens naturally and effortlessly. Or is there anything more wonderful than being able to discover yourself, living, discovering, exploring life in this moment?

The Ishaya teaching has given me everything. I live in constant devotion to my Ascension techniques, as they have led me by the hand to discover, from day one, when I took my initial course 25 years ago, that I have the choice and the power to continue living through old patterns and familiar thought currents, or to consciously choose to anchor my life to this moment through my Ascension techniques.

For me, this is true surrender: giving up the old and attractive habit of looking back at the past to relive it, or bringing our attention to a totally uncertain future that takes us away from the magic of life that we can only taste in this present moment, because it is the only moment that really exists.

The Courage To Experience More

It is a courageous choice to surrender or let go of old habits. It is courageous to recognise that we do not control the flow of life and its natural way of evolving and changing. It is courageous to dare to awaken to this reality by choosing to live in fulfilment and inner contentment, where everything is still, immovable, eternal, vast, totally present, and loving.

It takes courage to step outside our comfort zone and dare to jump without a parachute, because that is precisely where we learn not to cling on, to set aside the idea of who we think we are, and finally fly off into adventure.

Buddha said it very simply: “Stop forcing and you will see the magic.”

If you are reading this now, and each of these words resonates with you, leading you to experience that feeling of wanting to live your heart’s greatest desire, even if you do not yet know exactly what that is, then you are the one I am addressing in writing this article. You are the one who knows that there is something more you need to do to be happy and live your full potential.

Are you ready to choose to surrender control in order to experience who you really are? Are you ready to live a life full of appreciation, gratitude, and love? Are you ready to be free?

Are you ready to be brave?

I invite you to find out.