Maximus Freeman's Blog - Posts Tagged "non-resistance"
Surrender
For me, non-resistance is the allowing of everyone and everything to be exactly as they are, without judgement. Non-resistance is often exemplified by non-emotional passing thoughts; thoughts about ourselves, another person or a thing arise and quickly pass by without much consideration. However, certain types of thoughts linger, and occasionally become energized by judgment and condemnation. Other times, lingering thoughts trigger the physiological sensations of anxiety. When anxiety lingers in my mind, it usually rolls over into depression. Judgement, condemnation, anxiety and depression somehow sneak by my shield of non-resistance, and when this happens, I usually fall into a funk, with no apparent mental means of moving beyond this disruption. This sensation can feel paralyzing and debilitating. What can we do to alleviate this discomfort? Dr. David R. Hawkins suggests the concept "Letting Go":
"Letting go involves being aware of a feeling, letting it come up, staying with it, and letting it run its course without wanting to make it different or doing anything about it. When letting go, ignore all thoughts. Focus on the feeling itself, not the thoughts. Have the feeling without resisting it, venting it, labeling it, fearing it, condemning it or moralizing about it. A feeling that is not resisted will disappear as the energy behind it dissipates."
This is a wonderful mental concept, but it doesn't always alleviate my discomfort. I sometimes practice letting go all day and still feel the physiological sensations of anxiety or depression. Is there anywhere else to turn when letting go doesn't feel like enough?
Looking back at my entire life, I was reminded of my early life struggles and how I worked through them. When I was in drug rehab 33 years ago, I was introduced to a Power greater than myself. I was told that this Power could help restore me to sanity if I consistently turned my life and my will over to It. For 30 plus years, I utilized this practice, as a daily prayer, and benefited immensely. However, several years ago, I gradually moved away from prayer and basically attempted to control my life and my will once again. In my quest for enlightenment, I learned that Spirit was in each and every one of us, and once this was realized, I decided that I no longer needed to pray to any other source of Spirit outside of myself. Now, I feel like I have hit the wall again; it feels like my attempt to mentally control my life and my will has taken me as far as I can go. Help!
Yesterday, in response to my asking for help, a little voice in my head said: If you want judgment, anxiety and depression to lessen, go back to your old practice of turning your life and will over to this Power greater than yourself; give up control! Then the word surrender arose, and brought me a momentary wave of comfort.
My daily prayer is now once again part of this life: Thank you for this day. Please help me to surrender this life and this will to Thee O'Lord, and grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference...Amen
"Letting go involves being aware of a feeling, letting it come up, staying with it, and letting it run its course without wanting to make it different or doing anything about it. When letting go, ignore all thoughts. Focus on the feeling itself, not the thoughts. Have the feeling without resisting it, venting it, labeling it, fearing it, condemning it or moralizing about it. A feeling that is not resisted will disappear as the energy behind it dissipates."
This is a wonderful mental concept, but it doesn't always alleviate my discomfort. I sometimes practice letting go all day and still feel the physiological sensations of anxiety or depression. Is there anywhere else to turn when letting go doesn't feel like enough?
Looking back at my entire life, I was reminded of my early life struggles and how I worked through them. When I was in drug rehab 33 years ago, I was introduced to a Power greater than myself. I was told that this Power could help restore me to sanity if I consistently turned my life and my will over to It. For 30 plus years, I utilized this practice, as a daily prayer, and benefited immensely. However, several years ago, I gradually moved away from prayer and basically attempted to control my life and my will once again. In my quest for enlightenment, I learned that Spirit was in each and every one of us, and once this was realized, I decided that I no longer needed to pray to any other source of Spirit outside of myself. Now, I feel like I have hit the wall again; it feels like my attempt to mentally control my life and my will has taken me as far as I can go. Help!
Yesterday, in response to my asking for help, a little voice in my head said: If you want judgment, anxiety and depression to lessen, go back to your old practice of turning your life and will over to this Power greater than yourself; give up control! Then the word surrender arose, and brought me a momentary wave of comfort.
My daily prayer is now once again part of this life: Thank you for this day. Please help me to surrender this life and this will to Thee O'Lord, and grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference...Amen
