“I Surrender.”

We had a fierce, non-stop downpour on Friday afternoon into the evening, and it stunned me. All I could do was wait it out. I woke up this morning still thinking about the intensity and drama of it all. Mother Nature really is awe-some.

It got me thinking….there are things out of our control – we can’t control the weather, stop time, or force others to think in a certain way. Over the last few years, I’ve gotten better at saying, “Uncle.” I recognize when it’s in my best interest to surrender. Trying to control things that are out of our control wastes our energy. It burns us out. My grey hair is a great example. Coloring it month after month got to be very exhausting for me, like holding back the tide. 

Not to knock my life-long tribe, but fitness people are notorious control-freaks, so the notion of surrender can be especially hard for us. Let it be known that it is different than “giving up” or “settling for what is.” Surrender is not anti-self-improvement. It actually frees us up, so there is more energy to use on healthy pursuits we can truly affect. I just turned 50 and I can honestly say, my energy is stronger than it’s been in over a decade and a big reason is that I’ve stopped fighting losing battles. I’ve surrendered to the uncontrollables. 

What is wasting your energy? What feels like a never-ending fight? What leaves you feeling exhausted? These are important questions to ponder. Your energy is precious, and your dreams are calling. Surrender might be your best wellness move to date…and it could be your ticket to shining bright.