The Ask Sharon column as it appeared in The Area News on Friday 13 November, 2015.
Following is the full version of the column featured in The Area News complete with the “Surrender” card from Diana Cooper’s Angels of Light cards.
THIS week a question was submitted anonymously:
“My eldest son has moved away from home and when I visit him I get upset by how he’s living. Should I say something?”
Based on today’s card “Surrender” from Diana Cooper’s Angels of Light deck, you have two choices: You can intervene and potentially jeopardise your relationship with your son or you can surrender.
The “Surrender” card is copyright to Diana Cooper, 2009.
It’s ok to acknowledge that this situation upsets you. However, the message accompanying this card indicates, “Whatever you resist in life persists.” There comes a point when your awareness will show that a situation is keeping you ‘stuck’ and is robbing you of inner peace.
Parenting can feel like a minefield at the best of times. But if your child knows that you love and support them, there’s not much more you can do. Making decisions for themselves is a necessary part of life. People learn from experience not from being told about experience.
My advice is not about burying your head in the sand, it’s quite the contrary. It’s about facing your feelings and letting go of the power that they have over you. When we have the desire to change other people’s behaviours, we do so out of a belief that we will feel better. But, if we can feel better within ourselves, what we see outside of us will either no longer bother us or no longer matter.
It would be lackadaisical of me to highlight the issue without providing at least a glimmer of hope or silver lining. So never fear, the solution is here in Master Eckhart Tolle. His answer is simple: “As soon as you honour the present moment, all unhappiness and struggle dissolve, and life begins to flow with joy and ease. When you act out the present-moment awareness, whatever you do becomes imbued with a sense of quality, care, and love – even the most simple action.”
Tips on how to surrender and feel better now:
- Develop an inner strength so that no matter what happens you can convincingly say, “I’ll handle it”.
- Realise that this situation will help you clarify what it is you want from your life. This epitomises grace, which Tolle suggests is the doorway to the present moment.
- Acknowledge that each moment is an opportunity to be free, if you can allow it. Surrender equals freedom.
It’s time to raise the white flag and relinquish control of anything you have no control over. Instead you’ll have more time and energy to be present for your moments, whatever you wish them to be.
Send your questions for Sharon to editor@areanews.com.au
Don’t want to ask a question by email? Simply complete the contact form on this blog. Use the message box for your question and it will come directly to me. Only first names will be used unless you complete the form as Anonymous. Ask away…you may be pleasantly surprised by what the cards reveal.
Today’s card has been drawn from the Angels of Light cards (pocket edition). Image and card is copyright to Diana Cooper, 2009.
You might also be interested in…
My column’s on letting go and living in the moment and my post about living in the now.
Today’s Affirmation…
“I surrender to the flow of life”.
