The Surrender Experiment by Michael A. Singer

This book was confusing and powerful at the same time. On one hand this guy led an incredible life like Forest Gump just being open to things in life but on the other hand its not clear what he did not surrender too.

How he went from sitting on a couch noticing voices in his head, to building a huge meditation retreat in the woods to selling a 9-figure company is beyond me. The way he tells his life in a REAL story makes it all more unbelievable.

The Surrender Experiment by Michael Singer is an inspiring read in the way of being open to the mysteries of life, saying yes to things we may have doubted and keep peeling the onion of our own lives to live a fulfilled life.

I don’t think surrendering or “letting go” just means say yes to everything, have no worries and sit on your couch all day. Think it means to feel more through things, carry less weight on your decisions and be open minded to what the world is showing / teaching you.

This was my entire journey—liberation at any cost.

Here’s my favorite quotes and opinions on them below:

---

(https://www.amazon.com/Surrender-Experiment-Journey-Lifes-Perfection/dp/080414110X?tag=ninjacard-20)

I was willing to face loneliness and fear and not grab for relief.

Many times I grab for texting friends, alcohol or distractions to keep me from facing loneliness. It’s not BAD to be alone but it’s great to enjoy yourself and not see it as a discomfort. Bonus points for also recognizing how great it is to be around amazing people.

“Every day bite off more than you can chew, and chew it.” Life was teaching me some very important lessons.

Appreciate the concept of pushing your boundaries and going through ALL of the human experiences.

Take your life in a very different direction from where your preferences would have led you.

He reflects how if you do the normal things you do you won’t grow. In that regard he’s recommending to try things we’d say no to normally. Opening ourselves to new mysteries of the world.

An example is him saying “I clearly remember granting her request solely because the voice in my head was so resistant to it.” Which is encouraging to try this when ordering food, suggestions from friends or planning a vacation.

The difference is amazing between the first time you do something and the next.

Beautiful. When I go mountain biking and there’s a scary jump…Once I do it the second time is always easier. Amazing how many things were once scary just become the new normal. Makes us feel great about ourselves and give us capacity to do more than we believe in life.

It had become a pattern of mine to think, or wish, that an energy flow was complete when, in fact, it had just begun.

This-happens-all-the-time. I reach a pinnacle of wealth, get a relationship or a chess rating. Then I realize I am just at the beginning of the next experience. I like looking at this way vs just focusing on the destination and things are over. I have to keep reminding myself of this.

Perhaps change only takes place when there is sufficient reason to overcome the inertia of everyday life.

You can really only change when you truly want to, not for others. Noticing when we are bored, plateaued or limited in some way leads to awareness to making that change. Not to judge it or label it but be okay with it and then recognize we can do something about it.

I just kept letting go of whatever discomfort got stirred up within me, and inevitably, a stronger flow of spiritual energy took its place.

Love this conceptually. It sounds more woo than it is to me. It feels like being okay with feeling alone or horny or disappointed. Not making it worse but being okay with it, letting it pass and something better will fill its place over time.

The more I let go, the freer I became. It was not my responsibility to find what was binding me; that was life’s job. My responsibility was to willingly let go of whatever was brought up within me. Liberation at any cost.