Surrender: Allow and Activate!
Charleston shoreline, arms open in the surf
Life is a great mystery. And what an adventure we get to be part of!
I said yes to a chance to go to Charleston, and there I was, standing in the ocean with my arms wide open. I chose to walk into the surf. Then I stood there and let the waves come to me. I can still feel the peace of that looking at this picture.
I’ve been playing with this invitation from Koa Smith.
“Today I play with both sides of surrender. One breath. One question. Allow or Activate?”
I love that he says play. I can get so focused on how something has to go that I lose sight of choices I have. I think harder. I feel stuck. I try harder. And somehow I’m right back in a pattern I was hoping to get out of.
Then I take a breath. What else is possible here?
Mount Crested Butte summit, 12,162 ft.
One step at a time
12,162 feet! I can still feel the wind and the excitement of using my hands to climb those last rocks on Mount Crested Butte in Colorado! There was mud. There was snow. And there were hours of taking the next step. Literally one at a time.
I could see what the trail was giving me and choose where to put my foot. Then I could do it again. There was peace in having that much to work with, even with a long way to go. And then I got to stand up there, take this picture, and let myself feel it. I’m here!
From grounded to flying!
Inside a chrysalis, a whole new way of moving through the world was taking shape. Then came the moment to open those wings and fly. I love the mystery of that. I think about what might be taking shape in me right now, and what I might get to do someday that I can hardly imagine from here.
Every moment is preparing you and me for what is to come.
We get to play with both sides of surrender. We can allow, and we can activate!
The seasons are changing. The holidays are coming. A whole new year is ahead. I have things I’d love to see happen. And I’m curious about what might come my way that I never would have thought to put on the calendar. What invitation will I get to say yes to? What will I get to receive? What might I feel moved to start?
That’s the beauty of surrender for me. I get to choose how I meet what comes, again and again. Sometimes I get to open my arms and let life come to me. Sometimes I get to reach for the next rock and meet the next wave and see what’s unfolding. And there’s peace available right here, in the middle of the adventure.
What about you?
One breath. One question. Allow or activate?
Live Freely, Inspire Others.
Josh Neuer is a Licensed Professional Counselor, coach, and consultant in Greenville, SC.
Josh’s life’s work is to make room for hope and healing. He’s the founder of Joshua Neuer, LLC Counseling, a husband and dad, and absolutely crazy about relationships!
Josh@JoshNeuer.com
Visit JoshNeuer.com
Live Freely, Inspire Others.
Let Love lead with an open heart.