The Philosophy of Surrender
The textbook definition of philosophy can get convoluted, especially by today’s ever-changing standards. Simply put, it is the study of existence. Reason, wisdom, logic, and values are all core ingredients to giving meaning and purpose to our existence.
Setting up camp on a philosophical foundation is the first step we ought to take in our journey, and it is an important step that we are never taught in school and seldom by our parents and peers. For those embarking on a quest in healing, the inner work begins with pitching your tent where the soil is rich in the nutrients you feel is necessary to feed the life you covet for yourself.
“Philosophy teaches us to act, not to speak” — Seneca
Some people believe that having that “Ph.D” at the end of their name will give them the highest credibility. And sometimes that is true. But, if you’re like me and feel the expensive title would earn you bragging rights, it isn’t necessary. A practitioner is not defined by the fancy words they have published or spoken, but by the actions that reflect such knowledge and wisdom. That said, we can all be philosophers if we applied our chosen school of thought into daily tangible practice, thus cultivating a life of meaning and purpose.
What does that look like? I’m so glad you [didn’t] ask.
No matter how strict and perfect we keep to any routine, Life is happening all around. Chaos. Order. Whatever your perspective, it is happening. And it is rarely in tandem with you. The only tangible thing in your possession is self control. Now, here is where superficial perspective-shift goes out the window because I mean it when I say “self control” (and note the way I have written it). Control of the Self. Whose self? Your Self.
That little guy is you, me, and everyone else in the world. Life utters a cold “NO” to us all indiscriminately. How must we respond?
With a composed “OK” … because it is the only positive response that you can give yourself after Life slaps a negative one on you. What else could be a more appropriate response to that which we cannot control?
Anger? Sadness? Sure, if that is what you allow yourself to feel, which is okay. But at that point, you are responsible for what happens to your emotional and mental state of being afterward. The key phrase is “allow yourself”. Who is allowing you to feel sad or angry after Life denies you a sliver of joy? You.
And that is all well and good. Provided you understand that whatever happens afterward is entirely on you.
Life is doing its job, creating balance. And you have to be okay with that.
“Surrender is the inner transition from resistance to acceptance, from no to yes” — Eckhart Tolle
When I first started on my journey down the philosophical rabbit hole, I was introduced to Eckhart Tolle and The Power of Now. It was from this significant piece of transcendental literature where I learned about the meaning of surrender. Tolle describes surrender to be “the simple but profound wisdom of yielding to rather than opposing the flow of life”. This wisdom unquestionably stems from that of the ancient Stoics that taught their disciples about the art of living.
In order to understand the countless existing perspectives on life, we must first endeavor to understand our own and why it has or hasn’t worked in our favor. Surrendering to Now is how one can tackle the daunting task of being alone with our thoughts, which is how the best philosophers came to be anyway.
We all need to start somewhere, and the foundation I first laid was in the power of Presence. Over the course of time, I would lay more ground (Stoicism) and explore other means to nurture my philosophical earth by way of studying Buddhism and practicing regular meditation.
What composes your life’s foundation, and how do you maintain it?
