The Surrender Experiment by Michael A. Singer

"Since most of us only feel good when things are going our way, we are constantly attempting to control everything in our lives."

3 Takeaways from this book:

1. Mute Mode

Michael explains that he was so tired of hearing that voice in his head that the only way he could "shut it down" was through meditation. (I won't summarize the book, but this is just for context)

Taking a moment to meditate, to focus on the direction of our thoughts can greatly help us silence that little negative voice and make room for our intuition. To position ourselves as an observer of our thoughts, without judgment, without labels... simply observe.

2. Surrender to Life

In English it sounds better: "surrender to Life's events." Basically, it's about not judging the events or possibilities that present themselves to us. We always listen to our little voice, taking for granted that it has the ultimate solution, that by listening to it we'll achieve our goals. We all have an idea of the kind of life we want and which direction to take, according to our aspirations and ideal life, but Michael explains that every time a new opportunity presented itself, even if it didn't seem aligned with his "life path," he accepted.

By accepting to help someone (knowing very well that he might not have the knowledge), it took him on a different path where other opportunities presented themselves.

It's like: Life is unfolding in a way that you would have never imagined. (Only because you said yes from your heart instead of thinking from your rational mind and saying no)

3. Trust

It can be scary to surrender to life because we hold so tightly to following the "certain" direction that we're not able to imagine moving forward in an unknown direction. The more I'm attentive to life's signs, the less I "fight" against it. I tell myself "life does things well and sometimes we find ourselves in a period of questioning where everything 'sticks,' but it's simply because we're trying too hard. Life wants to send you left, but you insist on going right, thinking that's the only direction."

Let yourself go ONCE.

We're afraid of commitment and new responsibilities that a decision can generate, but that's how we gain experience.

When you put yourself in a somewhat uncomfortable situation, survival instinct kicks in and your brain switches to "find solutions" mode, and that's how we move forward.

By adopting this mentality, we reinforce the feeling of being comfortable in discomfort. We see that we're capable of managing, and new doors begin to open.

The more we do it, the easier it becomes, the more life sends us opportunities. That's where trust begins to take place.

This book opened my eyes to the type of approach I wanted to have—a less rigid approach to life.

Not forcing things. Trusting. Silencing our little voice in our head and opening our heart.

Put it into practice

If you're ready to cultivate trust and open yourself to life's flow, the Inner Compass 60-day journal is designed to help you find your inner knowing: that quiet wisdom that points toward your truth. Through self-awareness practices and reflective prompts, it helps you learn to trust yourself, observe without judgment, and navigate life's uncertainties with clarity and presence embodying the principles of surrender that Michael A. Singer explores in his work.