Dionne Ruff-Sloan
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LESSONS FROM WATER

3/7/2012

 
Picture
Last week, my son finished his level 1 swimming lessons.  Since then we've been going to the neighborhood pool to practice his skills and build that muscle memory in him.  

He's still struggling with floating 
on his back.  As soon as he leans his head back, he tenses up and starts to sink.  

He won't surrender his muscle tension because he doesn't feel safe 
enough to trust the water to support him.  Despite countless times 
of getting water up his nose, he's still willing to keep trying. 
With that willingness, I know he'll get it.

As I was watching him I thought of how similar it is to my personal 
work right now.  I'm having a shift in understanding of what the word
'surrender' actually means.  

By definition, surrender means 'to give oneself up into the power of 
another.' Someone having power over me?  No thank you.  To me 
that feels so wrong.  But I think in my mind I confused surrender 
with giving up which has two distinctly different feelings to me.  

Giving up means I've tried everything I know how and there's nothing
else I can do.  I'm out of ammo, out of ideas, and just plain tired.  Giving 
up has the weight of failure about it...like I have no choice.  Giving up 
feels as though there's no emotional support left and it comes from a closed hearted place.

Surrender feels more like a choice.  Like I've chosen to go with the flow
trusting that whatever happens I'll have the ideas, resources and energy
to face the challenges that come with as much grace and ease as I allow.
Surrender feels as though there is a wealth of emotional support coming
from a heart wide open to trusting the process.  

As my son leans his head back into the water once again, I whisper
'Trust the water.  It will support you if you let it.'  Sounds like pretty
good advice for me as well.

Arwen link
3/7/2012 02:28:02

What a beautiful post. I felt like tipping back and spreading my arms out to just let the universe catch me. This brought me joy!

Lesley Reid Cross link
3/7/2012 03:11:57

The water is such a beautiful metaphor for this. It will support you if you let it! There are certainly places for us to lead, to use our action and effort, but there are times when surrender, relaxation, rest bring us what we want in ways we could never imagine. Thanks for sharing!

Fran Riley link
3/7/2012 12:06:44

Thanks for this, I'm off to find a pool,lay back and let go.

Linnette Dooley link
3/7/2012 13:56:18

I agree, the water is a great metaphor. And your descriptions of giving up and surrender are insightful. I too am learning to not work so hard and instead surrendering. I too am asking myself to open up. . . and allow myself to receive the blessings of the universe.

Elle link
3/7/2012 19:21:16

Ah, so very very true! Love this distinction you've made and it speaks volumes to me as well. xoxo

Dionne the Tea Priestess
4/7/2012 11:59:53

Ah Arwen! "tipping back and spreading my arms out to just let the universe catch me" That is precisely the energy I feel when I truly surrender! A bit scary but complete and total trust that the Universe WILL catch me. Bless you!

Dionne the Tea Priestess
4/7/2012 12:05:10

@Lesley~ Figuring out when to act and when to relax is part of the delicate balance I'm working with personally. So many lessons coming from the water right now. Bless you!

@Fran~ After writing this post I felt pulled back to the pool to do just that! Blessings!

@Linnette~ Giving Up vs. Surrender has been on my mind a lot lately. It was so good to really feel into the difference between them and get clear for myself. Blessings!

@Elle~ Thank you dear one! It feels like an untangling of a knot for me. Bless!

Arwen link
4/7/2012 12:51:04

@Dionne, sometimes, I think things are scary so we can have a bigger "whew" once we've done the scary thing. Hugs!

Nora link
5/7/2012 00:57:02

Ah wonderful. I have difficulties with surrendering - although my mind knows the difference :) So I will lay back in a pool or in the sea letting your wisdom sink in and remembering that I can trust the water (as soon as the weather summerlike - which is not in the moment).

Love this. It speaks to me. Water always speaks to me. Time to listen again.

Dionne the Tea Priestess
5/7/2012 01:01:08

@Nora~ Bless you dear one. I think you can even get water lessons from a long shower or bath...though I prefer to go have a float in the pool or ocean as well!

samantha jenkins link
5/7/2012 03:58:08

What a great analogy!! I would have never of thought of it like that but it all makes such great sense ...relaxed, trusting that I am fully supported ...ahhh what a wonderful feeling that would be to maintain. Thanks for sharing I shall always think of this now in relation to surrender.

Dionne the Tea Priestess
6/7/2012 00:11:51

@Samantha~Yes darling it would be a wonderful feeling to maintain. I hope you head off to the pool or another body of water to root this truth into your spirit! Bless!

Nancy link
8/7/2012 00:54:15

Wonderful post, Dionne! I seem to have moments of clarity about surrender, but mostly have trouble separating it from giving up. I'm going to hang onto your wonderful water metaphor so I can keep them straight from now on. Thank you!


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    Blessings!

    I'm Dionne, a Natural Rhythms Creation Coach and Elemental Forces of Creation Oracle Reader.  I teach people how to tune into to the power of the elements and rhythms of nature to design a life they love 

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