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Cylvia Hayes's avatar

Scott, I think you might be my brother from another mother! I so hear you with this. Love this imagery -- "This unlikely paradox was catnip for a reformed overachiever like me ...". Life had to whop me but good to learn the upside reframed aspect of surrender. Much love to you.

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Scott Britton's avatar

Thanks Cylvia! I’m glad it resonates and know we’re not alone. So many people i’ve spoken with have went through this confusion…and life also had to kick my butt a few times

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Juanita Lepage's avatar

Just ordered your book as I was just re-reading the Untethered Soul and felt the same way as you did about the Surrender Experiment. Your nuanced explanation is helpful - thank you

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Scott Britton's avatar

Thanks Juanita! I appreciate the support and glad you found this helpful!

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Nader Afshar's avatar

Scott - reminds me of this quote from Victor Frankl: “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”

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Yasha Karda's avatar

That’s a core tenet of somatic coaching I studied. Was not aware of this quote. Which book is it from? I love Frankl!

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Chris Hutchins-Joss's avatar

The distinction you've drawn between accepting your reaction versus accepting your fate is genuinely clarifying. That confusion about whether acceptance meant abandoning agency whilst chronically ill - the paralysis of not knowing whether to keep trying or 'surrender' to being unwell - captures something so many people get stuck in.

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Virgin Monk Boy's avatar

Funny how surrender only sounds holy until life makes you practice it. Acceptance isn’t a halo, it’s a grim nod that says, “Alright, this too.” The peace shows up later, usually after the ego’s finished kicking furniture.

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