Howdy friend,

After reading David R. Hawkins book, Letting Go, I have been toying with different ways to integrate what he calls "surrender" into my life in a practical way.

Surrender, in David's words, means allowing feelings to exist without condemning, judging, or resisting them.

My favorite example of this in the book is with physical disorders. David says, "Stop giving the physical disorder a name; do not label it. A label is a whole program. Surrender what is actually felt, which are the sensations themselves. We cannot feel a disease. A disease is an abstract concept held in the mind. We cannot, for instance, feel asthma. What is actually being experienced is a constriction in the throat or chest."

Despite the wonderful examples in the book, without a practice or habit, it can be hard for me to implement concepts into my real life at times.

That's why I've decided to start a Surrender Journal.

How it works is simple:

1. Do it twice a day for five minutes (start and end your days with it).
2. Start every entry with: "Today I surrender..."
3. Treat it like a list, not a diary entry.
4. You will repeat yourself often and that's the point.
5. If you feel or think that it's not working, this is a sign that it ACTUALLY IS.

Here are some examples from my Surrender Journal:

• the idea that I am in any kind of danger
• the tightness in my throat
• the juice of sympathy from being a helpless victim
• lack of clarity in thoughts
• feeling frozen or stuck

Like gratitude journaling, this is an exercise that you get better at over time. Initially you may feel that you are missing the point or "not doing it right".

But remember that all of those thoughts are just your ego fighting for its place in the driver's seat. Dismissing things that can help us heal is a great way to never have to do them because then we don't have to experience change.

Best wishes in the new year,

Nick

(12/29) Writing Prompt: Write your first Surrender Journal entry. (5min)