Living into Surrendering: Feeling our Feelings

Living Into Surrendering: Day 9, Feeling our Feelings.

I have decided to live into surrender more consciously for 21 days, and share the journey with others. I invite you to join me, for the benefit of your own peace of mind, and the peace of those around you.

How do we meet our anger with any surrender? Right now, my resistance is very high, and I don’t want to meet the demands of my day. How do I sit in my anger, allowing surrender to be present ?

For me, the only way is to share my feelings with the One who knows me and loves me, trusting that I am recognized and received. “Come as you are.” If God doesn’t reject me, then I will not reject myself.

My current work situation cannot be resolved quickly, and I have financial pressures. I ask God to help me to surrender to what is in this moment.

As my friend Brother Rene told me many times: God will not fail you. I am bringing all of myself, including my anger and frustration, to God without holding back. Not easy. But the invitation is to bring more of ourselves into this sacred relationship.

In the meantime, I will take action by practicing self care in my day–in the simplest of ways: I will treat the people I meet today with kindness and respect; I will pack a good lunch and nourish myself; I will feel my anger, but not hurt myself or anyone with it; I will pray for God to give me insight and help me in this darkness.

Let us allow this poem by Rumi to help us welcome all our feelings.

The Guest House

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice.
meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.

Be grateful for whatever comes.
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

— Jellaludin Rumi,
translation by Coleman Barks