Today’s post is part 1 of a 10 part series, “10 Surrender Strategies”

Stress and surrender do not play well together!

But, while I’m thinking about it, does stress really compliment any aspect of life? So I’m not really telling you anything you don’t know already. I wish it were this simple and we all could avoid the negative things in life due to our knowledge of them being harmful. Far too often, the knowing is not the problem..We know that too much caffeine is not good, yet some of us (including me) drink way too much of it! We know that speeding on the interstate could very well result in a ticket, BUT…I think you catch my drift.

The power of relaxation rests in peace of mind. We tend to make bad decisions when we are tired, stressed out and overwhelmed. On the contrary, our best decisions are made when we are rested and have clarity of mind. This life is a grind and has the capacity to wear us all into the ground. The pace of life we keep is dictated by choices that are influenced by our surroundings. You do indeed have the power to slow things down and regain your mental faculties so as to start each day on and with a purpose.

So, on with the application of this post. Relaxation requires rest and resilience. If we are speaking of the start to your day, you will be most relaxed (considering your sleep hygiene) when you first wake up! Savor the second, and be grateful for the day ahead, AND DON’T FORGET TO SMILE! As you make your way through the day, try to revisit your most relaxed state (lying in the bed with a smile) as often as you feel stress creeping in. It takes an extraordinary amount of strength to surrender and you will be much more likely to do so if indeed you are relaxed!