Sweet Surrender

January has been a tasking month for me.  I just moved back to Germany after having lived in the States for the past 27 years.  While my family welcomed me with open arms, it seemed the rest of the country, with its administrative hurdles, was challenging me and my patience.

I was fully aware that my perception was not reality and that the rules apply to everyone, yet I was feeling vulnerable.  Those who know me understand that having to depend on others doesn’t come easily for me.  I was confused by the rules and regulations, confronted with unempathetic government employees, and puzzled by where and when to request the services I needed.  Despite my German citizenship, knowledge of the language, and education, these tasks seemed to be so much harder than I had anticipated. 

I cried a lot, mostly in silence.  All I knew was to take one day at a time and to have faith that my being here was purpose-driven.  I started looking for signs of hope, progress, encouragement, and support and found all of them little by little, especially after attending a local Baptist church service.  The message was clear – surrender because we are not in charge.

When you search the meaning of the word “surrender,” you get multiple definitions that, at least to me, are different in their energy level.  Allow me to explain. 

1. One meaning is tied to war times and declaring defeat towards an enemy or opponent.
2. Another one means yielding or giving in to a higher power.

For me, the second definition is where I focus because it means empowerment or being empowered. I have had conversations with clients who were resisting inevitable change or had ongoing conflicts with higher-ups.  When I suggested surrender, I frequently heard they couldn’t or wouldn’t because it meant not standing up for themselves or their teams.  That makes perfect sense if you define surrendering as defeat, but it is not a very kind or self-serving perspective. 

I choose to view surrendering as a sweet gesture of acceptance and focus on what we truly control – our thoughts, feelings, and actions. The rest is up to a higher power.  So, instead of feeling defeated, I trust and encourage you to do the same.

Trust in the fact that we are never alone. Trust that the universe has our best interest at heart. Trust that we already have everything inside of us that we need. Trust that we are enough. Trust that God loves you.

Life is not always easy, and it is okay to acknowledge it.  If you need a reminder of who you are and what you are capable of, contact me at angela@belladonnacareercoach.com, and let’s chat.  I help professionals transform mindfully and with ease through my signature coaching program called SOAR.