"Control is an illusion, you infantile egomaniac. Nobody knows what's gonna happen next: not on a freeway, not in an airplane, not inside our own bodies and certainly not on a racetrack with 40 other infantile egomaniacs." - Dr. Claire Lewicki to Cole Trickle in Days of Thunder.

One of the several great quotes that came from that movie but this one has stood the test of time. If you haven't seen Days of Thunder, go watch it now, make sure to have surround sound cranked up and get ready for an adrenaline rush starring beloved Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise.

"Control is an illusion, you infantile egomaniac..." Let that sink in. Do you feel like you could say this to yourself? I have. When I want all the control, my horse blinders are on, and I'm frustrated till wits end.

Seen it in your friends and loved ones? It's so easy to spot it when it's not on you, right?

I am grateful that I can recognize it now.

Notice if you are trying to manage every detail of how, when, where, if this, if that, of your life. What do you do? You know you're not getting anywhere but where you started. I had zero results to show for all my seemingly hard work, and I was exhausted. In fact, it took me running up against a mental brick wall over and over again to realize there's a lesson to be learned here. I was getting nowhere with my expectations, planning, and 'need to be right' chip on my shoulder.

This is where surrendering comes in. For me, the realization that I needed to surrender came after recognizing the way through was to the let go. When I released my attachment to the outcome in hope of receiving divine guidance, I felt free and a sense of peace. I had clarity and the fog over my path lifted so that I could see what I before could not.

"Control is an illusion you egomaniac," and so is the negative connotation of the word "Surrender."

The Myth Behind 'Surrender'

Surrendering is not a sign of weakness or evidence that you are giving up. Surrendering does not signify failure or defeat, or punishment. Surrendering is not a state we can will ourselves into or accomplish with our mind.

Surrendering is in fact a beautiful act of collaboration and humility that with awareness we can invite into our lives. When the opportunity presents itself to let go of your ego, you open yourself up to experience the feeling of being fully supported by a larger source of wisdom.

"The Truth"

Surrendering is in fact at the heart of all spiritual paths. There's no other single act that is more powerful or profound, yet so wildly misunderstood. Surrendering is not an act of will; It's an act of faith. You cannot "force" or "control" your mind or body's ability to surrender. It comes when the time is right.  We all have varying degrees of tunnel vision, and it might be the one antagonist that is keeping you from connecting with your higher self and serving your higher purpose. When all you see is the problem you don't see the solution...you egomaniac.

What Does It Mean to Surrender?

Surrender means to let go of control, release all expectations, forget about your desires, and selfish demands. It's your willingness to receive Life as Life is. Stop fighting! Surrendering, contrary to public opinion, is not about you! It's about removing yourself, your EGO, from space in time so that you can be divinely guided in directions that you may be unable to see. The Universe is always trying to help you get what you want.

Often when we fail at something, instead of recognizing that we are being divinely guided and expressing gratitude for that, we get angry and frustrated. We slip into a low vibration state and block all the hard work that the Universe has been doing behind the scenes.

"...Nobody knows what's going to happen next..."

We are angry that situations did not go as we had planned. We want to control the outcome, but it’s not working.

• You didn't get the promotion and you worked so hard...

• You lost on the house you wanted...

• Your linen for your wedding showed up one degree of color off...

• You imagined Life differently...

Whatever it may be and then you're frustrated and you ask, no, you scream:

• "How many times must I fail?"

• "Why does this keep happening to me?"

Your focus is misdirected. You are making it about you. Remember, “you” need to get out of the way of your own self, you egomaniac.

"...Certainly not on a racetrack with 40 other infantile egomaniacs."

You're not alone in this world. Millions of other people are working hard, trying to better themselves, looking to get to their own higher self. They have their egos too and egos collide. The great bliss of surrendering allows you to not make it a competition. If you don't get the promotion, it's okay, perhaps the Universe has bigger plan for you. Perhaps, a rival company is coming to pluck you from the ranks and gives you a bigger job title, with a raise, and great benefits. If not, trust, and be grateful that your hard-work made the choice difficult for bosses to decide who got the promotion. Your work did not go unnoticed and the next promotion is a shoe-in for you.  In the mean time, surrender and watch the 40 other infantile egomaniacs run in circles.

How Do I Surrender?

Meditation is an extremely powerful tool to help reprogram your subconscious mind, release yourself from the past, and learn how to surrender. Most people go into meditation still seeking control of the situation. Your mind is racing, your body wants to move, and the big one, you have expectations about how the session will go. This is the perfect recipe to block all the good that can come from meditation. Yet, if you find yourself anticipating while meditating, it's okay, that mediation session is better than no session at all. It takes time to flush out your need of control, you egomaniac!

If you find yourself confused on meditation, there are several different types of mediation, in fact there are YouTube channels, schools and even apps that can help you.

Here is the key to surrendering during meditation: Take a seat and focus on your breathing. That's it.

Wait, what??

Yes!

Let go! Whatever visions come to you, let them come. Whatever thoughts come to you, let them come. Have zero expectations. Don’t try to move the meditation in the direction you want it to go. Let it flow.  

As you practice and get better at surrendering during your meditation, you find it easier to incorporate this practice into your daily life.

Final Thoughts

If you are on a manifestation journey, learning to surrender and how to raise and keep your vibration elevated is part of the foundation that you must plant first. Your Tree will not grow without water or sunlight.

So, start letting go of control today, it's an illusion! Surrender, you infantile, egomaniac!

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I am incredibly grateful that you've found your way to my blog and this article. I hope it provides value and inspiration in your life. If you enjoyed reading this article please share it with others, leave a comment, and check out one of my FREE Manifesting Resources (home page)

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