Yesterday I was given one of the greatest gifts and blessings in a long time. I was given a storm which forced me to stay indoors to surrender to the day. And because we were marooned inside we decided that everyone would be able to do what their hearts desired. That meant I got to watch Super Soul Sunday on Facebook. And what a blessing that turned out to be for me.
Yesterday allowed me to understand there is no such thing as chance. No such thing as luck. Instead life is full of synchronicities that draw us to the place where we are meant to be. I looked out the window at the storm that was blowing outside. Stirring up the atmosphere getting rid of all the old making room for the new. While as I sat safely inside, the same happening for Oprah and Iyanla on Super Soul Sunday. I watched the pair of them getting rid of old beliefs and getting rid of old assumptions. Repairing a relationship that needed to be repaired. Listening to each other honestly and openly.
Often with tears in my eyes as I watched two women being honest with each other. Not waiting until they walked away from each other to tear each other apart. Making space for compassion and forgiveness. Empathy and respect. Closing the door to ill will, jealousy and backstabbing. So refreshing.
As I watched these two power houses go through a powerful process of healing, I understood that sometimes we have to go out on our own before we are ready so that we may fall publicly. To be humiliated. And the reason we are meant to is to give us the ability to make room within ourselves to learn the lesson we could not before. To learn humility, patience, compassion, forgiveness, and respect. To learn who we are and who we are not. To learn what we are capable of and what we are not.
Sometimes we have to fall as Iyanla did in order to open ourselves to surrender. To, as Oprah and Iyanla showed on Super Soul Sunday, open our arms wide and surrender to the message of the Universe without any preconceived notions of who we are and who we are meant to be. Only through falling are we able to look up and around to see we are not victims. To see we are creators of our own destiny. To learn we are only hampered by what we allow to happen to us and we cannot blame anyone but ourselves for where we find ourselves in our lives. BECAUSE WE HAVE ALLOWED IT TO HAPPEN. Invited in with open arms that which is comfortable for us rather than making space for those uncomfortable times that will take us where we need to go and be.
Thank you Universe for bringing me Tropical Storm Leslie and OWN on the same day. For allowing me the space to understand surrender. To recognize surrender is the process of opening myself up to the lessons I was brought here to learn. Opening myself wide. Letting go of expectations and preconceived notions. For understanding surrendering does not mean giving up and lying down believing we are victims. Not at all. Surrender is the exact opposite.
Surrender means we get up and keep going. Surrender means sending our intentions out into the world. And then we let go by going about being who we are. And when the time is right, when we are ready and when the universe is ready for us, we will get what we desire.
***About Catherine Duffy – A woman in search of truth. A wife trying to love unconditionally. A mother trying to raise good citizens. A writer bursting through. Enjoying life’s journey. Catherine can be found @duffy_catherine and on her blog from Bermuda · http://bermudacat.blogspot.com.
Like you Catherine,Ive been learning the past few weeks how and when to surrender.I dont believe in coincidences either,and am so grateful I was led to your article as it reaffirms the life lessons Ive been going through lately.
The most important lesson Ive learned,is to remove myself as much as possible from negative people and try as much as possible to surround myself as much as possible with people who lift me up.
Thank you so much Lisa for the feedback. Surrendering seems so easy but sometimes it can be very difficult depending on where we are in our lives and at what stage of growth with the particular lesson. Some days I am able and other days I am not. But when I do I feel like I have wings and can fly.
SHE IS SPEAKING TO ME, I CAN’T COMMENT! I CAN ONLY READ AND PONDER HOW TO GET UP, GET OUT, AND DO WHAT IYANLA AND MANY OTHERS LIKE HER ARE DOING. “BUT HOW AND WHERE DO I BEGIN, AND HOW CAN I WHEN I DON’T EVEN SEE A WAY OUT FROM MY LITTLE CORNER THAT I CALL HOME?”
Elisabeth, sometimes it’s difficult for me as well to surrender and sometimes it’s difficult for me to get out of my little corner as well. It all depends on the lesson we are meant to learn and whether we are at the stage where we can surrender. What I have learnt and try to remind myself on those days when I feel like I can’t is to just get up and do. Just let go and tell myself over and over again that this too shall pass and keep repeating that mantra to myself until I feel a lightness in my being. Until I feel a radiance in my step. Until I can breathe again freely and then I whisper gratitude to the Universe for just waking up in the morning for all the simple things I have in my life and the dark clouds start to lift and I realise without even knowing how, I have surrendered and gone on to a different space. Getting out of the corner just means beginning without expectation, without ego. One step at a time. Try getting out of your corner one step at a time. Thank you Elisabeth.
Thank you Cathy for being such an inspiration and light! With love and respect from these two sisters, thank you for sharing this space with us.
Paula how can I thank you and Patricia enough for acknowledging me. True sisterhood is liberating and universal as I have discovered from the synchronicity of our meeting. Peace, love and light to you both.
I enjoy your comments and I have always enjoyed Oprah. Oprah is very smart and, more importantly, she cares about people. She’s not afraid to stand up for what she believes is right and true. I have watched her on television for many years and always look forward to what she has to say. I would think she has certainly made a huge impact upon many of our lives. —-What an incredibly great soul! –Roma
Thank you Romy, Oprah is a very special woman brought here to teach us that we are universally the same regardless of where we come from. Through her shows she teaches us that we are never alone in the way we feel or what we have and are experiencing. She brings people from all differences walks of life together. Thanks for reading my story. Peace, love and light. Cathy