~ Surrendering ~ 

Surrender, defined by the Cambridge dictionary, is “to stop fighting and admit defeat.” 

For many years, when we are battling mental health or substance use, when we are in the throes of our destructive and chaotic life, we don’t think about defeat, admitting defeat, or just letting go and going with life. In order to admit defeat, accept help, and jump into the last 3 stages of change (preparation / determination, action, & maintenance), a lot must be done or experienced. 

For many people, it takes losing relationships, losing their career, losing a house, a car, or going to prison. For some people, it might even be the losing the life of a dear loved one. For others, it just might be taking a short vacation at a detox facility or a residential treatment program. For still others, their bottoms might just be the experiencing of an emotional crisis. Each of these scenarios or experiences can lead someone to change the direction or their lives and the decisions that they have been making in life. 

But the question that I like to ask is this – when we are at the turning point in our lives, in order to make the appropriate and best decision, do we have to get to a “jumping off place” in our lives? Can we save ourselves years of chaos and headaches? 

My challenge to you is this – what is your decision today? Which stage of change are you in? Are you moving forward or going backward? Are you admitting defeat in your life today? 

Peace & love to all 

~ KO