The word surrendering can sometimes imply a weakness, a sense that we have lost or given up. I actually believe that surrendering is one of the most powerful and courageous ways of living. Surrendering means to relinquish the control over an outcome. To accept a circumstance and understand that life is actually happening in the present. That anything we refuse to let go of is something that doesn’t exist and our energy force is being drained by trying to hold onto something that doesn’t exist. It’s easy to understand how we need to surrender the big things, but what about the little day to day things that we could accept and surrender? I truly believe the secret to successful surrendering lies here.
Why is it important to practice surrender? Because without it we are living through the lens of our polluted minds and limiting beliefs. We are obstructing ourselves and completely getting in the way of our own source of deep intelligence and energy. Sounds like a foolish move, but unfortunately, that is what we have been conditioned to do.
In order to bring our minds back into the present moment and give ourselves the opportunity to surrender and experience the power of flow and presence, we need to become aware of the ways in which we get stuck. This is where we can tap into journaling that accesses the mind. By being able to understand the inner workings of our minds then we are better able to channel journaling that accesses the soul.
Think about this type of journaling as a means of decluttering. Sit with your journal, close your eyes and just breathe. Deeply. Centre your mind and observe the thoughts that arise. What event are you focusing on? What feeling comes up? What in the past or future is your mind still replaying in this moment? Start with that one. Now write about it. As you write about it observe and record the perceptions you have about it. Now reflect on the beliefs that caused these perceptions to arise. What old files in your mind are influencing these perceptions? The deeper you are able to analyse, the more you will become aware of how the past is robbing us in the present – and the future (Rajshree Patel, The Power of the Vital Force).
ECKHART TOLLE
I recently went to hear Eckhart Tolle speak. Here are my key takeaways that can be explored further through journaling, meditation or any other form of introspective practice that you prefer:
- Unconsciousness is the complete identification with the conditioned mind.
- The ego is a character formed with the conditioned mind.
- Time (defined by the past and present) is the greatest obstacle to connecting with your deepest dimension.
- Unconscious is when you become the emotion or feeling – you completely identify with it.
- Stillness is the absence of inner noise.
- Every time you identify with a thought, you are reborn into that thought.
- When you meet a challenge, consider what state of consciousness you meet that challenge with. Try and meet it consciously instead of reactively.
- Wisdom is the higher intelligence that operates through you when you are in touch with the higher dimension, when you are able to give a situation attention without applying concepts.
- The greatest cause of suffering is from the narrative, not the cause (let go of the narrative)
ART THERAPY
As I delve into the world of art therapy, I’m sharing my key insights with you.
The Secret of Colour
Did you know that colour can communicate insights into our personality, thoughts and emotions on a subconscious level? There is such a strong correlation between colour and emotion that a whole therapy, Colour Therapy, was derived from it. The idea that colour is a sensation in our consciousness means every colour has a positive and negative element to it. This means colour is perfectly positioned to help us communicate the duality of life. Colour is an important tool in art therapy because most of our response to colour is at an unconscious level and it can be used to reveal beliefs and emotions about an experience that the mind may not yet be consciously aware of.
Here is a brief analysis of the colour red so you can understand the different ways it can be represented.
Red has the longest wavelength on the visible spectrum, making it a colour that has powerful positive and negative connotations. Red, the colour of blood and fire, represents life and energy. As a result, in both Eastern and Western cultures, red symbolises heat, passion, desire and intensity. It is a romantic colour and often linked to the colour of love. Additionally, red is seen to represent good fortune and blessing, harmony and expansiveness and irresistible strength. Due to the high energy of the colour, we can use red to instill positive energy and vitality in our lives. Popular negative relationships with the colour red come from its long association with anger and rage. Because of its powerful hues, red is often associated with strong negative feelings or events such as sexual taboos, lusting for power, hatred, fury, cruelty, slaughter and murder. The shade of red used must be analysed to determine whether red was used in a positive or negative context. If red was used in a positive context, we may be able to better understand our hopes and desires, and if used negatively, it provides an opportunity to explore the reasoning for the colour and what we are looking to heal from.
A quick art therapy exercise…
Choose a colour that appeals to you. Close your eyes and imagine you are that colour. Flood it into your consciousness. Now say “I am (insert colour) and I am ….”.
Your statement will reveal something to you about your association with a particular colour and something about your inner psyche that you can explore further.
My statement: “I am purple and I am flowing, creative and free.”
That’s it for now. I hope that you found some resources and practical tools that you can apply to bring greater clarity and awareness into your life.
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Featured artwork: "Ego" - Oh, ego you paradox. I used you to construct me yet it was because of you that I lost myself.