An Issue of Control

One of the biggest things I struggle with as I traverse this spiritual journey, is the concept of submitting to a higher power and relinquishing control of this entire endeavour.

If it was only about submitting some things and keeping control of some things, then it would be easy. Who doesn’t want someone else to deal with one’s burdens, and take credit for one’s successes?

The challenge is that we are told to submit and give up control of everything to a higher power.

In Sufism we call it fanā (فناء‎ ) – basically, the annihilation of the human ego before God.

I don’t know about you, but I find it hard to surrender my ego and my identity that I’ve worked so hard on consciously creating. Although, being a LinkedIn profile writer, is probably not the highest thing I could shoot for now, is it? In my youth I shot for philosopher … LinkedIn profile writer feels like settling (and, settling for anything that is not the highest expression of myself feels like hell).

A friend of mine said the other day, “Surrendering feels like loss.” I think she’s right, it does feel like loss.

Of the four things that underly any worthwhile pursuit … security, power/status, fulfilment and harmony, status is the biggest driver for most of us. And, that’s a race to the bottom, I tell you. Trying to impress anyone is an exercise in futility because it leaves one weakened, insecure, dissatisfied and disillusioned in the final analysis.


All paths lead to nowhere, so find a path with heart. Carlos Castaneda


The antidote to status is to:

• Submit because you and I have no control of the outcomes (Covid is testament to this).
• Be in awe and gratitude that we get to play here for a little while.
• Do meaningful work so that we can become masterworks and make this life a masterpiece.
  
  We really are the point of it all. This story you’re living has been written to enchant you. Just by being born we have more than is our due. This means that we’re in overtime every day. Let’s just make the most of our life, and enjoy it for what it is.
  
  A gift.
  
  A moment in time.
  
  A miracle.
  
  No amount of money in your bank account can fill that hole in your chest called insecurity. Etsko Schuitema
  
  Let’s do something that scares us today … let’s be grateful, in awe and be present.