Art of Surrendering
Yielding is not seen always as weakness. It can represent the wisdom that tells us of Nature’s secret in survival, whether applied to the evidence of the bamboo and the flexible plants that allow the winds to give them strength in time, or to the human compliance that allows a superior result in situations and relationships, or the strong action of an army general in warfare.
In the cultivation of upright, healthy plants we observe the wisdom of a gardener who understands the need to balance strength and flexibility. In philosophizing, the clear example of the need for yielding for life preservation to avoid the brittleness that can break, is a popular one. We can learn a great deal from the natural world that demonstrates surrender of individual creatures to forces greater than themselves.
In application of this principle to human life however, it is much more complex as we struggle with the basic psychological exercise of discovering when is the time to assert ourselves and ideas as expression of our god-given free will and when our personal ego has to remain subdued, restrained or even suffer frustration should we be required to yield to something inferior.
We keep in mind the important directive to be true to ourselves and this helps to focus in deciding when and where yielding is not weakness. It is the acid test in many difficult choices we are called up on make. To yield to something that is in accordance with our ideals, beliefs and our own principles but offers a new and better result would perhaps demonstrate our maturity and willingness to take a path towards growth. When faced with a greater force, persuasion or intrusion not in accordance with our personal freedom, ideals and principles then could certainly be argued as weakness through betrayal of our true self. But it is not always that easy and so deserves some consideration.
It can be when we fall in love and our emotions participate in a situation that offers greater and more fulfilling experience and growth of the love principle, there are few who choose to resist the impulse to yield in willing surrender. Some people choose to make a habit of it until it presents a case of possible weakness as can occur when any habit dictates to us. But the example is offered only to show that the beautiful human emotion of love is also associated with choices, sacrifices and sometimes inner conflict.
A strong leader is never at a loss for followers who happily yield to surrender previous personal elements for a cause. If the cause is perceived as greater than one’s individual efforts, many find it easy to offer their energies. In fact many people yearn to meet such a leader who exemplifies their ideals and offers a practical path for their expression. In other words, to surrender to a greater person, cause or value has obvious virtue just as long as personal discrimination and personal freedom of choice are employed. The powers of persuasion are very strong.
History however, demonstrates how it is possible that group surrender of individuals can be destructive as witnesses in violent revolution and mass aggression that has been responsible for unimaginable and unforgivable deeds. These happenings remind us to be cautious.
The art of surrender is one that requires wisdom greater than most of us initially possess, but by practical action and choices life quickly teaches us. We find that to surrender to something greater may require sacrifice but the result will be a proven justification. We find that to surrender to something less than our intuition and nobler nature demands results in self recrimination and loss of self respect.
Then there is the factor of appropriate degree of importance of a situation that offers a choice between standing strong or demonstrating personal courage and giving in to save a person, situation or cause. This is left to each of us to decide, and every day we are faced with an echo of this basic exercise in measuring what is important and what is not within the framework of circumstances, and within the corridors of our own mind and heart.
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