Do you acknowledge the will of a higher power in your life? If so, that’s a great start but how good are you at honouring this will or do you insist on trying to take control regardless?
If you’re able to ‘let go and let God’ as the saying goes, you’ll experience ease and relief as things fall into place naturally, even if on the surface this may not appear to be going according to your plan.
If you can’t, you’ll create unnecessary suffering for yourself as you push against ‘what is’.
We all fall along the continuum between these two states of being at any one time. Where we fall depends on how aware we are of how this works and how present we can manage to be at the exact time of the trigger.
As your awareness deepens and as you get better at being present, so you’ll improve at surrendering control automatically.
At other times you won’t be present enough so you’ll react and resist. And then as if someone turned on a light in the darkness, you’ll suddenly ‘see’ the madness and put an end to it
I love it when this happens. I always feel so amazingly powerful and grateful to have been able to catch myself. In fact I did this only yesterday.
I had to go to a meeting across town and decided to catch a train to my destination.
Half way along the 20 minute walk to the railway station I was suddenly prompted to check and see if I had my wallet.
I almost ignored this message because there are two items I am usually very careful about, my wallet and keys. In my younger days I was notorious for misplacing or losing both of these regularly which is why today I take great care with these.
I checked nonetheless and discovered that I had indeed not packed my wallet.
At the precise moment of this realization I was not sufficiently present however. Perhaps this was because I had been pre-occupied with thoughts about the up-coming meeting and maybe it simply had to do with the fact that I had been distracted by the morning rush hour chaos.
Realizing that I was going to have to turn around and walk back home again, I immediately felt a physiological reaction in my gut – a tightening and sinking feeling.
Then right on cue the chatter box started its tirade.
“Oh no, that’s the last thing I wanted to happen.
I don’t want to go back home.
There are far too many people I’m going to have to fight through to get back.
It’s going to take too long.
I’m going to be late and I don’t want to be late.
Why did I forget something so important?
Maybe I should just cancel the meeting.”
All this took a matter of seconds, before guidance came booming through,
“Just stop that, right now! Breathe in and out and be still.”
As I did so I felt relief ‘wash’ through my body and all tension ease.
Immediately I let go of wanting to push against the situation. I accepted that what was happening was fine. Then I turned around and very calmly walked back home to collect my wallet.
When I did eventually get back to the station I discovered that they had replaced trains with busses for the day on that route.
Ironically I managed to catch a direct express bus that had me arrive at the destination even earlier than if I had caught the original train.
I couldn’t say that forgetting my wallet had resulted in a better option however, since the busses would have replaced the trains regardless.
I did ponder though what the reason may have been for me having to be delayed initially. Nothing seemed to jump out at me.
It’s not as if my going back home allowed me to save a drowning cat on the way for example nor was I prevented from catching a train that later broke down in a tunnel.
As it happens I enjoyed a very constructive meeting and the rest of my day was just perfect.
What may have ensued had I kept up the resistance at that earlier point though?
It’s likely my mood would have been affected negatively, setting the tone for the next number of hours and maybe even for the whole day. My negative vibration on my way back home may have attracted circumstances that were less than positive and my meeting may have been disastrous as result too. Thank goodness none of this was my reality.
If everything happens for a reason do we always have to know what the reason is?
Sometimes we may know after the fact, however giving up control also means giving up having to know why things happen as they do.
Perhaps it happened so that I could be in another place at a certain time to see something or talk to or smile at someone. Maybe my guides were simply giving me practise at listening and following their commands. And maybe it all happened to prompt me to write this post. I may never know and it does not matter.
We have to trust implicitly that whatever happens in our lives, especially when this does not go according to plan, is for our highest good and we do not always have to know the reason why.
When things don’t go according to your plans how do you respond?
Is there anything you think you may do differently in the future as a result of reading this post?
Do you have any stories about how you overcame resisting situations which led to you knowing or not knowing why it was meant to happen as it did?
Have your say in the comments section and I’ll meet you there. Please also share this post with your followers so that they can join in the conversation too. Thank you.
Be Happy!
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Hi Marcus,
I too have been experiencing this same power. I used to think I could handle things on my own in similar experiences, I’ll share:
One morning, it was kind of cool outside, but I anticipated on it getting warmer throughout the day; Something told me to get a sweater, but I ignored it. All day long I had wished I had grabbed a sweater.
I have similar experiences to your wallet story, something tells me to check again for my purse (I’ve had enough of these situations happen to me that I’ve stopped ignoring them) I went back to check and lord behold my purse was sitting on my bed.
I’ve realized that this little voice is God reminding me and directing me to prevent those moments when we can get lost in anger and frustration.
I actually really enjoy hearing those little voices, it is now a sign of comfort in the knowing and of my awareness that my consciousness is truely focused on Him.
And you’re right, it makes me feel really powerful too!
Chelsea Thomas recently posted..If You Have One, Do You Really Need Others?
[Reply]
Marcus Baker Reply:
October 12th, 2011 at 8:57 am
Hi Chelsea,
Listening to the voice within is so important. We need to learn to trust it more and follow the guidance that comes our way. We can only do this when we consciously decide to do so.
Thank you for sharing your stories here too.
~Marcus
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Hi Marcus,
I used to be a planning freak. I wanted to control everything and I was a perfectionist….
Lately I learnt to let go a bit, trust God and enjoy a bit the journey
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[Reply]
Marcus Baker Reply:
October 12th, 2011 at 7:23 am
Hi Tomek,
I was also a perfectionist at one time in my life and I nearly drove myself and everybody I knew crazy.
You are right though… there is nothing enjoyable about wanting to be in control all the time but you only know this when you can let go and enjoy the relief.
~Marcus
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Hey Marcus, I had several experiences like the one you described. However, this happens when I’m able to let the stress and negative energy aside and be fully connected to my deep inner self and to the universe. I do my best to be in this state as often as possible, but it’s not easy
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[Reply]
Marcus Baker Reply:
October 12th, 2011 at 7:20 am
Hi Erica,
Welcome and thank you for leaving a comment.
You are right it takes work but the benefits are amazing.
~Marcus
PS: KellieErcia, I notice that you are not using a Gravatar yet and was wondering whether you are maybe just not aware of where to get one?
Having your photo come up next to all of your comments is a great way for people to get to know you rather than that faceless default graphic which presents. Anyway just in case you don’t now you can get one for free at http://en.gravatar.com/
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Hi Marcus,
Wonderful!
Detaching and allowing things to be – without judging – is the way to go. A challenge, but as you note, presence is paramount.
I had an interesting situation recently, which taught me to reserve judgment and be open. There are a ton of strays here in Phuket, pretty much everywhere you go, you are going to see 1 or a pack of dogs. 1 dog in particular hangs out at the 7-11 by us. One of his eyes is missing and he has a sad, hang-dog look on his face. One night after seeing him sit on the floor outside the store, I was overcome by grief. It was more than compassion, it was grief for the dogs, and my judgment that all were suffering, or unloved, because they were on the streets.(Forget about the fact virtually all of them are well-fed, and quite energetic). Anyway, I came home and cried for like 30 minutes. I couldn’t believe how unfair it was, these dogs had to suffer. I did not question the Universe, but I was wondering, Why?
The next day at the beach it was raining. So it was me and about 30 strays. 1 dog starts running with me. He turns when I turn. Keeps pace about 5 strides behind me. He’s happy. Full of energy. He runs with me for like 20 minutes. Turn, follow, turn follow. I’ve never seen him there, and he’s my best buddy and running partner all of a sudden. I’ve never experienced anything like it in my life.
I could feel the message instantly: “We are OK, no worries buddy”, as he ran with me, and looked up at me. Then I stopped by another 7-11 on another side of town. The same 1 eyed dog from the prior day was at that location. So obviously, somebody at 7-11 either owns him, or takes him in, because he’s well fed and popping up at multiple stores….lol. I didn’t see the hang dog eyes. I saw a plump, loved dog, who happened to be missing 1 eye. I felt better, because the Universe drilled the point home: all is OK.
I knew then why I experienced my outpouring the prior day. All is well, and sometimes we need to go through these resistance-laden moments to be reminded that all is well, and all will always be well, as long as we don’t fight how things are. No matter what happens, or how we feel, all is OK. God takes care of all, in His own way. Judging causes you to suffer, but being open causes you to see things that a judging mind is blind to.
Ultimately, God’s will is done. Things are as they are, but they always seem to work out. As I lightened up after my jogging experience with the stray, I began to see God’s will is done. These dogs are strays, yet they play with each other all day at the beach, and people take care of them with food, and love too. Some dogs are not as fortunate, but these creatures pass in time, according to Will, once again.
Remaining present helps us see a new and fresh Universe. One that is what it is, one that we can’t explain, but one that we can learn to live in peacefully as we accept what is and simply move forward from there.
Thanks for sharing Marcus
Ryan
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[Reply]
Marcus Baker Reply:
October 11th, 2011 at 5:17 pm
Hi Ryan,
What an awesome story. Thank you so much for sharing Ryan.
As I read it I could clearly see and feel you and the dog running on the beach and I could actually sense a great peace within myself.
We often think we know what is best for a situation or others and want to change things but as you say all is happening perfectly in God’s Will – always has and always will be so.
We always have to remind ourselves that every living creature on this earth is on a mission that was decided beforehand. What comes our way is meant to come our way.
Why a dog is a stray hanging around a 7-11 in Phuket and not owned and spoiled by Mr and Mrs Dog-Lover, living in some salubrious suburb somewhere is exactly as it is meant to be for that dog. Perfect.
When we are present we have the space to see things without reacting. We just let them in and see them pass out again, rather that trying to wrestle them to the ground.
Wonderful story Ryan. Thank you.
~Marcus
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How do I respond?
Initially, I am a bit frustrated. Wishing things would go the way I had them planned out. If not, oh well, I guess.
If I didn’t lose a limb, and I still have a pulse – it’s OK. That’s the way I look at it.
Sure forgetting a wallet is annoying – especially if you needed the contents for something. Butttt, it’s not the end of the world
.
Life goes on. Tomorrow is another day. That’s the way I look at it lol.
Brock Blohm recently posted..I Guess It’s OK For Now
[Reply]
Marcus Baker Reply:
October 11th, 2011 at 5:04 pm
Hi Brock,
As human beings we have to continually be vigilant in this regard, the smallest of insignificant triggers can catch us unaware. Great attitude Brock!
~Marcus
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Marcus,
I am so pleased I found you and this post! This is the hardest one for me, “Let go and let GOD”.
The hardest one. It took years for me to be able to trust my partner, Salt, to take the right trail, and because I wouldn’t let him and was constantly correcting him and fighting him, which was really funny because this always happened after dark, and I can’t see in the dark- at all! (What was I arguing about?! Control, of course) Oh! Salt was my horse, my Guide Horse, my partner. I am a Big Game and Wilderness Guide in Alaska.
The lesson finally sunk in when I thought I’d killed my best friend. We went into quicksand quicker than ever before, it took what seemed like forever to get him to “try” that last time, when he finally lunged free. And suddenly it sunk in, “Let go and let GOD”. I had been crying and praying out loud asking for strength, begging for help. We were alone, and then we were not alone anymore. It was that simple.
Thank you for this post, Marcus.
~Amber-Lee
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[Reply]
Marcus Baker Reply:
October 12th, 2011 at 6:49 am
Hi Amber-Lee,
Welcome. Awesome to have you here and to have you share such an amazing story too.
So funny that you were arguing in the dark when you couldn’t see yourself. Don’t plenty of that, metaphorically myself.
And then there’s our futile clinging and pleading when the opposite is required. There’s a quote by Henry Ellis that speaks to this perfectly:
“All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.”
When we allow the power within to work miracles it is effortless and so much easier than desperately trying to control, conjole and manipulate things on our own.
Thank you Amber-Lee!
~Marcus
[Reply]
Hi Marcus,
thanks for sharing this story. We don’t have to know the “reasons” why something happens. The looking for reasons originates from the reasoning faculty of our mind and is part of the control madness and the struggle that comes with it for free.
Just recently, when driving to Genoa, I accidentally took a wrong motorway junction in Switzerland, despite the GPS in the car.
I realized instantly that the “wrong” motorway was pretty much parallel to the “right” one and that the scenery was nicer – less traffic too.
The problem is the second guessing when we get hunches, for example to turn left instead of turning right. Was I “right” when I followed the hunch ? Was there an accident or a traffic jam on the other road ?
We don’t have to know that !
Be blessed
Oliver
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[Reply]
Marcus Baker Reply:
October 12th, 2011 at 5:59 am
Hi Oliver,
We definitely have to keep our intuitive faculty separate from that of reasoning.
There is no compatibility between the two but we find it challenging to trust without the proof beforehand. It’s crazy since having faith is exactly that – belief in the absence of material proof.
The moment we let reason interrupt our intuitive connection, it is lost.
Your shared story about the motorway drive illustrates the benefits of just going with the flow. Thank you.
~Marcus
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Hi Marcus,
Beautiful post and reminder!
We all do tend to get frustrated and unhappy if what we plan doesn’t work. It could result in anger, hurt, pain, which we tend to take out on others and mostly they are our near and dear ones.
However, learning to accept the change and remaining happy with the accepted change is what is required. Easier said than done, but to think that this is destined and His will makes things easier.
Thanks for sharing
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[Reply]
Marcus Baker Reply:
October 17th, 2011 at 11:14 pm
Hi Harleena,
Welcome and thank you for leaving such a great comment.
It is true that by having faith and not wanting to control everything ourselves that we realize that in doing so we make the journey of life much easier.
~Marcus
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I have been there and done that Marcus. The way we respond to life’s events will really decide if they have a negative impact on us.
I have my moments now when I let myself slip into negativity but the difference is now I don’t stay there.
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[Reply]
Marcus Baker Reply:
October 17th, 2011 at 10:57 pm
Hi Justin,
Being able to catch ourselves before or during such an experience is always such a joy.
Thanks for sharing Justin.
~Marcus
Marcus Baker recently posted..Is Your Life Due For an Edit?
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Hi Marcus
Great post. I have some things going on right now and so many points really resonated with me. I find going with the flow and just doing whatever I need to do always works in my favor. When I resist and get all bent out of shape, it affects everything else like a domino.
I have always been a very intuitive person by nature and as I gain greater control over my mind, it shines through more and more and I am getting better at listening to it; I do ignore it sometimes and it almost always works to my disadvantage.
I know that whatever happens, it will always lead to something better, whether because I make the conscious choice to make a change advantageous to me or because my faith will bring me something I cannot logically anticipate…usually it is a combination of the two. It is keeping that mindset that is the challenge, but I am getting better at it every day.
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[Reply]
Marcus Baker Reply:
October 17th, 2011 at 11:02 pm
Hi Kellie,
It as you suggest in your comment a practice that we get better at when we realize what we are doing.
I too have always been very intuitive and like you when I ignore it, oh heck… what a mess.
However… I agree with you, whatever happens is perfect and we will learn what must at some point even if we make it more difficult for ourselves, and if we do then that is obviously what we needed to do too.
Thanks for adding more value to the post Kellie.
~Marcus
Marcus Baker recently posted..Is Your Life Due For an Edit?
[Reply]
Marcus, aloha. Great story. To me the 2 key facts are that you listened to your inner guidance both when told to check and to calm down. Though it doesn’t matter what the “reason” is that you forgot your wallet and thus your timing was off, I do believe it either “spared” you something which was not in alignment with your “good” vibrations or you gained something from it. From the comments above, it may well have been the final inspiration for this post which is resonating with so many people.
Ryan’s story was fantastic. WOW! What a powerful experience. Combining his story with your post, people will “get it” even more.
Marcus, when a situation occurs to me similar to yours with your wallet, I flow with it. Long ago I stopped attempting to figure out the reason for it. Sometimes later something will happen and I decide “oh, that was the reason such and such happened.” Who knows whether or not that is true, however, it does satisfy my logical mind’s craving for reason.
Because I have been doing this for so long, I cannot remember a particular “aha” moment. What I do know, is that it is constantly reinforced.
The other day I commented about going out to leave and then having to come back in the house for something. Because of the “forced” return, I was here for an important phone call. Many, many instances of that nature happen to me.
When I am driving somewhere, even though I have “usual” routes, I will sometimes have the “urge” to go a different way. Sometimes I will find out later that traffic was tied up on the original route while other times I have no idea.
What I do know for sure, Marcus, is that every time I give into what the “logical mind” is explaining away against the urging of my inner guidance, I regret listening to the brilliant rationalization.
While I cannot think of anything that I personally will do differently as a result of reading this post, what I am going to do is to share it with a couple of people in the hopes that it will help them listen to their inner guidance as opposed to the rationalizations of the lizard brain.
Thanks so much for another stellar post, Marcus. Wishing you a fantastic rest of the week. Until next time, aloha. Janet
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Janet aloha. Isn’t it interesting how the Universe gives us guidance about what to write about in the oddest of ways.
If we expected some voice to boom down saying, “Marcus please write a post about….” then most times we would conclude that we were not receiving guidance as we had requested.
I loved Ryan’s story too. It really extended and clarified further the intention of this post. Co-creation at it’s best I would say.
I am not at all surprised Janet that you are well practised in following urges and ignoring the logical mind.
Thank you for adding to the conversation and sharing this post with others. Much appreciated.
~Marcus
Marcus Baker recently posted..Is Your Life Due For an Edit?
[Reply]
Hey Marcus!
Could I tell you a little story of what happened a while back…almost 20 years ago?
I took my 3 children to a state park that was closed for the season. We walked the 1/2 mile to the beach after parking outside the gate. My 3-yr-old son found a watch and said, “Mommy! You have it. You wanted one.” I said ,”No, we’ll find someone who’ll bring it to the lost and found.”
Just then a park ranger came walking towards us and snickered as we gave her the watch.
Then she described my car and told me it had been broken into and she would drive me and the kids back to it.
I looked over the piles of shattered glass strewn over the passenger’s seat and on the ground.
Sitting in plain sight was my wallet (nothing taken).
The thief had escaped with a diaper bag with a dirty diaper and my scriptures!! LOL! I laughed so hard as the breeze blew in through the window on the way to the garage to get it repaired.
I believe that the decision I made to give back the watch was being made as someone was breaking into my car. I was calm before I knew that nothing was stolen. It didn’t bother me that it had happened. I felt like I was being watched over no matter what.
But I knew for sure when I saw that wallet how everything we think and do prepares us for future situations. You can’t just talk yourself into peace. You have to live it.
I’m very long-winded. Wouldn’t you say! LOL!
[Reply]
Marcus Baker Reply:
November 16th, 2011 at 7:07 pm
Hi Betsy,
So lovely to see you here and thank you for sharing your story.
I have to say I had long chuckle at what the thief got away with or not. Ha ha..
I feel absolutely certain that your actions with the watch aligned the energies in such a way that your were protected.
I have often found myself walking through what others may describe as dangerous neighbourhoods and yet I never feel unsafe or threatened. It’s almost as if I have an invisible protection around me and I know it’s because I have faith that I am looked after.
I especially loved this line of of yours – “You can’t just talk yourself into peace. You have to live it.” Absolutely Betsy, absolutely!
Even if you were long winded Betsy … it was well worth it!
~Marcus
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