People ask me all the time… how are you so peaceful and calm? It always seems as though you haven’t a care in the world.
What’s my reality? They’re not lying; I truly live my days without a care in the world. Most of you will say there’s no way that’s possible, especially with all of life’s events.
I’m here to say it is possible. I live it every day, and I’m about to share this truth with you.
Anytime I have a concern, family issue, life crisis, health issue—anything—what do I do? I surrender it to God.
Most people will say, “I do too; that’s what I’ve been taught. But I still worry, and I’m still concerned from time to time.” If this happens to you, I can say my experience is you haven’t totally surrendered it to God. My personal experience is when I totally surrender anything to God, I no longer think about it, fret, or worry. I’ve learned through practice that if I’m still thinking or worrying about it, there’s still “surrender” work to do.
How do I surrender? By handing the issue back over to God, each and every time my brain, thoughts, and emotions carry me back to the stress, worry, or anxiety of the issue.
What’s my practice? I call it the silver tray technique. I imagine myself holding a beautiful silver tray at heart level. I place the person, thought, or issue on the tray, and I simply lift the tray (visually in my mind) up to God. I imagine Him taking the tray from me, and then whenever my mind reverts back to the worry, stress, or anxiety, I place it again on the tray and hand it back to God.
I have to say, when I first learned this practice, I had to hand it back over to God dozens of times a day, but eventually, the thoughts lessen, and then you forget about it. That’s when you know, beyond a doubt, you have truly surrendered it to God.
I invite you to play with this. Practice and practice until you master it. You will live a happier life with ease, peace, and grace because you are not attached to or holding on to any issues or worries. That’s what God has always intended: for us to surrender all, then wait and watch in gratitude.
I hope this little “surrender” practice helps ease the burdens and stress in your life. We are always happier, more productive, and living the life God has intended once we move closer to God and surrender all our cares and worries. What a wonderful life, and it can truly happen to you.
…it’s your time.
Much love,
Dr. Shirley Ann