When I was in my teens, I found that if I worked hard enough, I could get more of what I wanted, whether it was attention, success, power, or knowledge. I stayed up until 3:00 in the morning studying for exams to get good grades in school. I exercised six times a week and lost weight. If you look at my history, I would often work extremely hard until I got the results I wanted.
But sometimes things just go wrong. No matter how much effort you put in, you can’t solve the problem. You know that feeling?
You work late, come in early, work through lunch, but you don’t get that promotion. You try to be the perfect girlfriend or boyfriend, but you still get dumped. You save up all year for a vacation, plan the perfect two-week getaway to relax, but a snowstorm cancels your flight, or you twist your ankle the day before you leave. It’s infuriating to put all your effort into something only for it to turn into crap!
What to Do When Life Doesn’t Go Your Way
When life doesn’t go your way, it’s easy to get angry at yourself, others, or the universe, especially when you start imagining all the different ways you could have done things differently or comparing yourself to others. You feel frustrated, cheated, and ready to give up…
But giving up doesn’t mean giving up your desires or long-term happiness. It does mean letting go of the need to control the situation. To surrender is to sit back and relax your grip. You admit that you can’t control everything. You agree with yourself and the universe, and you no longer try to manipulate the environment.
Surrendering isn’t easy, but it’s often the only way forward. When you’re at your wit’s end, surrendering is the most powerful action you can take to break through. Surrender. Let go of control. Brave letting go. Do this, and then watch your life unfold with magic, joy, and excitement like you never imagined!
