I love the counterintuitive wisdom of running into the storm in order to be safe. I've been thinking a out this so much since that prompt- how we must face the BIG SCARY THING sometimes in order to find peace. Thank you, thank you for sharing Love's message here. ♥️♥️♥️
Beautiful and prolific. Your words go deep into the interior of my heart, and act as a salve. To savour that which is meaningful, to surrender to what is, and to give ourselves the permission to be, in what is, at this moment. Much love to you and thank you for your beautiful writing, Jocelyn.
Hello sweet Diana, I just saw your comment - for some reason, I am getting spotty alerts to comments these days. This, "Your words go deep into the interior of my heart, and act as a salve" that makes me heart feel so good. So much love right back to you. xoxox
Just what I needed to read! I love your endearing, child-like monikers throughout; like a Mama. And don’t we all need mothering- esp our own now & then? I know I do.
As I was reading what came to mind was the story of the Sun & the Wind and their challenge of who could get the man to take off his coat first. I won’t go into the whole story here, but suffice it to say, I am most like the wind when in a fearful space. And isn’t it ironic that it’s by acting this way I am most ineffective?
Silly me! And yet, I’m trying to be patient with myself. To remember I’m only human, and not the Sun, after all 😂
There is this notion (for lack of a better word) that we can reduce every emotion (& action that flows from it) down to 2 things: Fear or Love. (I am sure there are examples that violate this premise - after all- nuance, & Art & Chaos), but the idea has often served me Anyway- to ask myself-
“Am I in a space of Love or Fear right now?”
And I think you hit the nail on it when you said that Surrender involves cracking open. It involves a softness. A trust. A letting go. I can’t remember where I read that trust and confidence both have the same Latin origins but I think that’s interesting.
Can I have the confidence to Trust in something or someone I don’t have control over? Can I have confidence to even trust myself?
There is a Sanskrit phrase that I love that means “Trustful Surrender;” another that I took for my Mantra that essentially also means Surrender. I will spell them wrong for sure if I type them out now, but perhaps I’ll circle back and pop them in. Either way- Thank You for the inquiry you’ve inspired in me, and for your beautiful words
Colleen, thank you so much for this! There is so much here that resonates. I don't know the story of the sun and wind, but I get it and I love that you recognize this about yourself, "I am most like the wind when in a fearful space. And isn’t it ironic that it’s by acting this way I am most ineffective?" and how you move in the world.
Yes! be patient with yourself! It's such wonderful medicine. ;)
And this, "we can reduce every emotion (& action that flows from it) down to 2 things: Fear or Love." SO MUCH YES. I absolutely believe that. And I am really practicing choosing love. And what a practice that is lol. Fear is so so so prevalent and so easy to fall into without realizing it. For me, at least, but love is right there, right there! All the time and so remembering to choose it is always so gratifying when I do.
Trust and confidence with the same root. That makes so much sense. And yes again "Can I have confidence to even trust myself?" This is something I feel like I am working on right now and have been for a looooong time.
Oooh and please feel free to pop back in with some Sanskrit. I know very little, though I have favorite mantras that I sing along to, I don't know specifically how to translate what they mean in language, but they resonate with my heart and I believe Sanskrit is a language with deep resonant energy.
Thank you thank you for such a lovely, generous, thoughtful comment. It was a delight to read and learn from you!
p.s. I keep thinking of this, "Silly me! And yet, I’m trying to be patient with myself. To remember I’m only human, and not the Sun, after all" and it feels like a beautiful prayer. xoxoxo
Awe, THANK YOU Sooooo Soooo Much for your Beautiful reception of my comments.🥰❤️✨
I have been just a little disappointed in myslef for not posting to my own SS in over a month now, 😢 While I’ve started 9 posts now 🤪😂- I either get interrupted or I lose interest or make a muck of things by trying to finish.
I’m trying to take some of my own advice and just allow what is- surrender😃to that something in me that is preferring to connect in real time with people who’ve already written things that resonate & inspire me.
And of course WITD!!!
Of which I can swim in for days on end😂
Your energy and reception here has affirmed something in me. Thank You. ☺️
Oh that's just beautiful. And I feel so honored that you found what you needed here. And WITD, you nailed it, I can swim there for DAYS.
I know that feeling too of starting and getting bored or just not knowing where the piece is going or where I want it to go. I have about four pieces started right now that are just waiting for the right time and energy.
I love that you're surrendering to what feels like it is needed for you. That's really the key isn't it?
A cry of yes from your heart! Such a beautiful gift you just gave me. Thank you sweet sister. And thank you for saying that about the photos. They speak to me in a way other things don't. I haven't seen many of these photos, since maybe I was a child, if ever. And they bring a sweetness to my heart. So I am touched that you see them as sacred, of course you do, because they feel very sacred to me too. xoxoxo
I am learning surrender helps build resilience which allows me to better navigate the bumps and bruises of life. The strength of letting go, the belief that all shall be well, the faith in myself is a foundation worth building.
Oh my gosh, yes, Susan! I was just talking about this with my husband. The idea that surrender and resilience are tied together. So much yes to this, "The strength of letting go, the belief that all shall be well, the faith in myself is a foundation worth building." I have a new little mantra that my sister gave me the other day, "These are the good days." It came from an article I need to find (that she couldn't remember) in which a study was done on base-level happiness and they found that people who practiced this mantra could raise their base level happiness. And it just struck me as making so much energetic sense, that if these are the ONLY days, they must also, even when they are the worst of days, still be the good days, simple because they will never be here again. And I think this really speaks to the surrender you're talking about, that resilience and faith in self and that all is and will be well. Thank you so much for sharing that! xoxoxo
My pleasure! My husband had two, out of the blue, extremely rare strokes this time last year. Thankfully, he is doing very well, yet the experience changed me profoundly. I embrace each day with him with a deep sense of gratitude for the everyday moments, even the frustrating or challenging ones as they are still moments together.
Oh wow, Susan. Thank you for sharing this with me and I'm so glad he's doing well, and still, this, "the experience changed me profoundly" I think that's the beauty in these types of experiences, right? That we can be changed in a moment towards surrender and grace and acceptance. I love this for you so much, and I am so grateful you shared it with me, because it's such a good reminder that the moments together are just that, and only that, always, moments together. ❤️
Such a wonderful piece, Jocelyn. I believe that love is the greatest power we have at our discretion that we do not take full advantage of and never will. You put it so well in your letter, "To sit under the lightning, to let the thunder pulse through your veins, to open your mouth and let the rain pour down your throat and to laugh, my dear. To laugh and to run and to shout in the downpour and to love yourself into the oblivion of Love." For years now I've kept my theology, my rule of life to four words: love God, love others. If I go outside that umbrella, I really, have to think about what I'm doing. Thank you for all this, friend.
That made me smile, " If I go outside that umbrella, I really, have to think about what I'm doing" I love the image of the umbrella of love! Thank you for the kind words. I agree with you -- it's the most powerful thing in the world and we have infinite amounts available to us, we just don't know to access it, or we forget. I think a big part of being here is recognizing that love despite how challenging being human is. I always cherish your comments and point of view. Thank you so much for taking a minute to be over here and connect. 🙏
Life gets in the way of a lot of what I want to do but thankfully I make time for connection when I can. I wish we could all lounge around in a coffee house all day solving world problems but who has time for that?😉 But I cherish the snippets of conversations that do happen here. Thank you, friend.
yes, life does take so much time, just to get through the basic humaning and adulting. ;) And I too cherish these little bits of connection, though they don't really feel little do they?
Totally agree. I’ve been considering your response for days now and has really stirred some reflections in me. You’re right, our convos here maybe short on words but not so small on the impact they make.
I love it when that happens. Reverberations of connection that spark a recognition or realization or resonance. I am still surprised by how deeply moved and touched I am by so many conversations I've had here on my stack and others. The level of kindness and wisdom and vulnerability shared here is incredible and I think it's the kind of thing that really can and does change the world, one little bit of love and impact after another.
It sounds simplistic but really, I believe, it's because we write, we think about what we write, we spend time contemplating, revising, writing, and writing that all takes, comparatively speaking, a lot of time. So even in our conversations, there's thought, and more time to ponder, to think, then speak. This is how we were programmed in the beginning.
Thank you thank you thank you for sharing this specific letter from Love itself. I'm happy that love is patient and never stops loving as as I unclench my way to full on surrender ❤️
You are so very welcome Deborah. Thank you for saying so because I wasn't sure if it would just be a repeat - I know lots of my readers are over on LFL too, but it seems to be a balm even the second time around. ❤️ and Yes! this, "love is patient and never stops loving as as I unclench my way to full on surrender" I'm really really practicing _knowing_ that in my bones, so in all the times I feel lost or sad or joyful, I can recognize and notice that Love is right there with me. xoxox
Wahoo! I love this, thank you Jocelyn. I got all the snuggly feels from the endearments in this piece which is interesting for me because that is how I write to my readers. I warn them in my about page (or somewhere) if they don't like to be called Honeybun that I'm likely not for them! I haven't stumbled across anyone else writing quite like that so it was interesting to read this piece and realize it made me feel so good! Of course the topic and writing were excellent which made me feel good but those endearments were like a much-needed hug from you.
Oh that just makes me so happy! “All the snuggly feels” thank you! I really felt called to share this piece because things seem so heavy now for so many and it. Rough me some snuggle feels too. ❤️ I adore endearments and feel so loved when people use them with me, so honeybun me all you like! And here’s another hug from me to you.🥰
Thank you! I love this idea of surrender as a practice, like meditation. Not just something we try to do in challenging times, but a muscle we build. Do you have a surrendering practice to recommend? xoxoxo
Of course! It’s like giving yourself mercy or grace or more space to be still. To be free. If I’m holding on too tightly or so attached to an outcome I visualize what liberation and softness feels like. You can use what works for you. For example, I may put all my troubles in a 🧺 and imagine a kite lifting everything away. There’s usually some resistance at first. Old habits and all. Water practices are healing. Releasing at rivers or streams or oceans if possible. Write a letter or draw an image of what you are letting go and feel it in your body. Sometimes you can just listen to water nature videos on YouTube and say to yourself I release_______. Sometimes I even have a good cry. Sometimes I just choose softness and stillness and I hit the pause button on plans. Make sense? Make sense? Mostly I’m finding surrender practices are creativity ones. What brings you glimmers (polyvagal theory)? What brings you softness? What brings you liberation? Hope this helps.
I love the counterintuitive wisdom of running into the storm in order to be safe. I've been thinking a out this so much since that prompt- how we must face the BIG SCARY THING sometimes in order to find peace. Thank you, thank you for sharing Love's message here. ♥️♥️♥️
Beautiful and prolific. Your words go deep into the interior of my heart, and act as a salve. To savour that which is meaningful, to surrender to what is, and to give ourselves the permission to be, in what is, at this moment. Much love to you and thank you for your beautiful writing, Jocelyn.
Hello sweet Diana, I just saw your comment - for some reason, I am getting spotty alerts to comments these days. This, "Your words go deep into the interior of my heart, and act as a salve" that makes me heart feel so good. So much love right back to you. xoxox
Enjoyed reading your Letter from Love here as much as I did on Liz's Substack. 😊
Just what I needed to read! I love your endearing, child-like monikers throughout; like a Mama. And don’t we all need mothering- esp our own now & then? I know I do.
As I was reading what came to mind was the story of the Sun & the Wind and their challenge of who could get the man to take off his coat first. I won’t go into the whole story here, but suffice it to say, I am most like the wind when in a fearful space. And isn’t it ironic that it’s by acting this way I am most ineffective?
Silly me! And yet, I’m trying to be patient with myself. To remember I’m only human, and not the Sun, after all 😂
There is this notion (for lack of a better word) that we can reduce every emotion (& action that flows from it) down to 2 things: Fear or Love. (I am sure there are examples that violate this premise - after all- nuance, & Art & Chaos), but the idea has often served me Anyway- to ask myself-
“Am I in a space of Love or Fear right now?”
And I think you hit the nail on it when you said that Surrender involves cracking open. It involves a softness. A trust. A letting go. I can’t remember where I read that trust and confidence both have the same Latin origins but I think that’s interesting.
Can I have the confidence to Trust in something or someone I don’t have control over? Can I have confidence to even trust myself?
There is a Sanskrit phrase that I love that means “Trustful Surrender;” another that I took for my Mantra that essentially also means Surrender. I will spell them wrong for sure if I type them out now, but perhaps I’ll circle back and pop them in. Either way- Thank You for the inquiry you’ve inspired in me, and for your beautiful words
Colleen, thank you so much for this! There is so much here that resonates. I don't know the story of the sun and wind, but I get it and I love that you recognize this about yourself, "I am most like the wind when in a fearful space. And isn’t it ironic that it’s by acting this way I am most ineffective?" and how you move in the world.
Yes! be patient with yourself! It's such wonderful medicine. ;)
And this, "we can reduce every emotion (& action that flows from it) down to 2 things: Fear or Love." SO MUCH YES. I absolutely believe that. And I am really practicing choosing love. And what a practice that is lol. Fear is so so so prevalent and so easy to fall into without realizing it. For me, at least, but love is right there, right there! All the time and so remembering to choose it is always so gratifying when I do.
Trust and confidence with the same root. That makes so much sense. And yes again "Can I have confidence to even trust myself?" This is something I feel like I am working on right now and have been for a looooong time.
Oooh and please feel free to pop back in with some Sanskrit. I know very little, though I have favorite mantras that I sing along to, I don't know specifically how to translate what they mean in language, but they resonate with my heart and I believe Sanskrit is a language with deep resonant energy.
Thank you thank you for such a lovely, generous, thoughtful comment. It was a delight to read and learn from you!
p.s. I keep thinking of this, "Silly me! And yet, I’m trying to be patient with myself. To remember I’m only human, and not the Sun, after all" and it feels like a beautiful prayer. xoxoxo
Awe, THANK YOU Sooooo Soooo Much for your Beautiful reception of my comments.🥰❤️✨
I have been just a little disappointed in myslef for not posting to my own SS in over a month now, 😢 While I’ve started 9 posts now 🤪😂- I either get interrupted or I lose interest or make a muck of things by trying to finish.
I’m trying to take some of my own advice and just allow what is- surrender😃to that something in me that is preferring to connect in real time with people who’ve already written things that resonate & inspire me.
And of course WITD!!!
Of which I can swim in for days on end😂
Your energy and reception here has affirmed something in me. Thank You. ☺️
Oh that's just beautiful. And I feel so honored that you found what you needed here. And WITD, you nailed it, I can swim there for DAYS.
I know that feeling too of starting and getting bored or just not knowing where the piece is going or where I want it to go. I have about four pieces started right now that are just waiting for the right time and energy.
I love that you're surrendering to what feels like it is needed for you. That's really the key isn't it?
xoxo
🥰🥰🥰
Into the storm after all - what a twist Love provided in these words! And a cry ‘ahhhh yes, of course!’ from my heart.
I adore your baby and family photos, it’s truly a privilege to have this sacred glimpse into someone’s early life 💜
A cry of yes from your heart! Such a beautiful gift you just gave me. Thank you sweet sister. And thank you for saying that about the photos. They speak to me in a way other things don't. I haven't seen many of these photos, since maybe I was a child, if ever. And they bring a sweetness to my heart. So I am touched that you see them as sacred, of course you do, because they feel very sacred to me too. xoxoxo
Yes it is indeed felt 💜
I am learning surrender helps build resilience which allows me to better navigate the bumps and bruises of life. The strength of letting go, the belief that all shall be well, the faith in myself is a foundation worth building.
Oh my gosh, yes, Susan! I was just talking about this with my husband. The idea that surrender and resilience are tied together. So much yes to this, "The strength of letting go, the belief that all shall be well, the faith in myself is a foundation worth building." I have a new little mantra that my sister gave me the other day, "These are the good days." It came from an article I need to find (that she couldn't remember) in which a study was done on base-level happiness and they found that people who practiced this mantra could raise their base level happiness. And it just struck me as making so much energetic sense, that if these are the ONLY days, they must also, even when they are the worst of days, still be the good days, simple because they will never be here again. And I think this really speaks to the surrender you're talking about, that resilience and faith in self and that all is and will be well. Thank you so much for sharing that! xoxoxo
My pleasure! My husband had two, out of the blue, extremely rare strokes this time last year. Thankfully, he is doing very well, yet the experience changed me profoundly. I embrace each day with him with a deep sense of gratitude for the everyday moments, even the frustrating or challenging ones as they are still moments together.
Oh wow, Susan. Thank you for sharing this with me and I'm so glad he's doing well, and still, this, "the experience changed me profoundly" I think that's the beauty in these types of experiences, right? That we can be changed in a moment towards surrender and grace and acceptance. I love this for you so much, and I am so grateful you shared it with me, because it's such a good reminder that the moments together are just that, and only that, always, moments together. ❤️
Such a wonderful piece, Jocelyn. I believe that love is the greatest power we have at our discretion that we do not take full advantage of and never will. You put it so well in your letter, "To sit under the lightning, to let the thunder pulse through your veins, to open your mouth and let the rain pour down your throat and to laugh, my dear. To laugh and to run and to shout in the downpour and to love yourself into the oblivion of Love." For years now I've kept my theology, my rule of life to four words: love God, love others. If I go outside that umbrella, I really, have to think about what I'm doing. Thank you for all this, friend.
That made me smile, " If I go outside that umbrella, I really, have to think about what I'm doing" I love the image of the umbrella of love! Thank you for the kind words. I agree with you -- it's the most powerful thing in the world and we have infinite amounts available to us, we just don't know to access it, or we forget. I think a big part of being here is recognizing that love despite how challenging being human is. I always cherish your comments and point of view. Thank you so much for taking a minute to be over here and connect. 🙏
Life gets in the way of a lot of what I want to do but thankfully I make time for connection when I can. I wish we could all lounge around in a coffee house all day solving world problems but who has time for that?😉 But I cherish the snippets of conversations that do happen here. Thank you, friend.
yes, life does take so much time, just to get through the basic humaning and adulting. ;) And I too cherish these little bits of connection, though they don't really feel little do they?
Totally agree. I’ve been considering your response for days now and has really stirred some reflections in me. You’re right, our convos here maybe short on words but not so small on the impact they make.
I love it when that happens. Reverberations of connection that spark a recognition or realization or resonance. I am still surprised by how deeply moved and touched I am by so many conversations I've had here on my stack and others. The level of kindness and wisdom and vulnerability shared here is incredible and I think it's the kind of thing that really can and does change the world, one little bit of love and impact after another.
It sounds simplistic but really, I believe, it's because we write, we think about what we write, we spend time contemplating, revising, writing, and writing that all takes, comparatively speaking, a lot of time. So even in our conversations, there's thought, and more time to ponder, to think, then speak. This is how we were programmed in the beginning.
Thank you thank you thank you for sharing this specific letter from Love itself. I'm happy that love is patient and never stops loving as as I unclench my way to full on surrender ❤️
You are so very welcome Deborah. Thank you for saying so because I wasn't sure if it would just be a repeat - I know lots of my readers are over on LFL too, but it seems to be a balm even the second time around. ❤️ and Yes! this, "love is patient and never stops loving as as I unclench my way to full on surrender" I'm really really practicing _knowing_ that in my bones, so in all the times I feel lost or sad or joyful, I can recognize and notice that Love is right there with me. xoxox
Wahoo! I love this, thank you Jocelyn. I got all the snuggly feels from the endearments in this piece which is interesting for me because that is how I write to my readers. I warn them in my about page (or somewhere) if they don't like to be called Honeybun that I'm likely not for them! I haven't stumbled across anyone else writing quite like that so it was interesting to read this piece and realize it made me feel so good! Of course the topic and writing were excellent which made me feel good but those endearments were like a much-needed hug from you.
Oh that just makes me so happy! “All the snuggly feels” thank you! I really felt called to share this piece because things seem so heavy now for so many and it. Rough me some snuggle feels too. ❤️ I adore endearments and feel so loved when people use them with me, so honeybun me all you like! And here’s another hug from me to you.🥰
Love this Jocelyn! I surrender regularly as a practice. :) it’s empowering and liberating. Have a wonderful Wednesday. 💛
Thank you! I love this idea of surrender as a practice, like meditation. Not just something we try to do in challenging times, but a muscle we build. Do you have a surrendering practice to recommend? xoxoxo
Of course! It’s like giving yourself mercy or grace or more space to be still. To be free. If I’m holding on too tightly or so attached to an outcome I visualize what liberation and softness feels like. You can use what works for you. For example, I may put all my troubles in a 🧺 and imagine a kite lifting everything away. There’s usually some resistance at first. Old habits and all. Water practices are healing. Releasing at rivers or streams or oceans if possible. Write a letter or draw an image of what you are letting go and feel it in your body. Sometimes you can just listen to water nature videos on YouTube and say to yourself I release_______. Sometimes I even have a good cry. Sometimes I just choose softness and stillness and I hit the pause button on plans. Make sense? Make sense? Mostly I’m finding surrender practices are creativity ones. What brings you glimmers (polyvagal theory)? What brings you softness? What brings you liberation? Hope this helps.
Ishvara Pranidhana &
Swaha (so be it; the surrendering of oneself with no ego)