In his book The Surrender Experiment, Michael A. Singer describes the remarkable events that transpired when he chose to let go of his own ambitions and concerns and just let life unfold in front of him following a profound spiritual awakening.
As a young man seeking a life of solitude in the woods, the founder of a flourishing spiritual community in Florida, or the CEO of a billion-dollar medical software company, Singer explains how this crucial choice to accept life as it comes led him to extraordinary success, supported him during difficult times, and enabled him to develop deep inner peace.
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Singer shows you how the secret to a calm and harmonious existence is surrender as he walks you through his massive experiment. Your innermost presumptions will be tested by his extraordinary and surprising life experiences, which will teach you to accept life’s perfection, let go of the urge to control everything, and stop forcing the outside world to fit your wishes.
About the Author
MICHAEL A. SINGER is a spiritual teacher and author of two New York Times bestsellers: The Untethered Soul and The Surrender Experiment. In 1975, he built the yoga and meditation facility known as Temple of the Universe. He has also significantly advanced the fields of business, education, healthcare, and environmental preservation.
Review
This is one of those novels that has stuck with me long after I’ve done reading it. I just completed reading it. Singer’s tale, which details his path of letting go of his own preferences and control in order to let life lead him, is both inspirational and difficult. His strategy of accepting “what is” rather than fighting or over-organising truly got me to reflect on how I live my own life.
From his early years spent in the woods, meditating and seeking inner peace, to his unintentional role as the founder of a prosperous business, Singer’s path is truly extraordinary.
He talks about how, despite his fear and discomfort, he made a commitment to say “yes” to anything life threw at him. It’s amazing to watch how this strategy brought him chances and experiences he never would have imagined for himself.
The way Singer tackles the resistance and anxieties that arise when you attempt to relinquish control is what I found useful about this book. He is honest about how hard it may be to submit, especially when things aren’t going as planned, rather than acting as though it’s simple.
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I was really inspired by his observations to have greater faith in life’s process and to stop feeling the need to control everything. Because of the captivating writing, you can almost feel him going through his highs and lows.
This book is ideal for anybody seeking an alternative approach to managing life’s unforeseen circumstances, and it undoubtedly caused me to reevaluate some of my own control-related behaviours.
Anyone who is interested in the concept of surrender or who wants a new perspective on achieving contentment and meaning in life should read it, in my opinion. It’s one of those novels that makes you talk to a friend who is a few steps ahead of you on your path.
Summary
In summary, when everything goes your way, it’s simple to give in to life. It seems like Mr. Singer had to learn to accept being told how great he is over and over again.
There is nothing in the Surrender Experiment that reminds me of the literature I’ve read on yoga and Buddhism. The prosperity gospel, which holds that if life isn’t going your way, you’re just not praying hard enough, is a closer analogue.
In reference to the final court case: As a lawyer, I don’t believe his account of events. Even though I like critiquing our contemporary judicial system, this story doesn’t align with my knowledge and experiences.
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That is among the book’s main issues: The implicit opposite of “Michael A. Singer is amazing” is that he is surrounded by fools. People continued flocking to him because he was the only capable person in the area, even though he didn’t want to perform all these incredible things. It’s annoying.
After all, Mr. Singer is a baby boomer who was a hippy before becoming a businessman and is now attempting to defend giving up his ideals in the interest of the money. Come on, Mr. Singer, own it. Give up to the fact and quit acting like you’re an alternative just because you don’t wear a suit.
Finally, in an attempt to seem less pessimistic, I would say that I agree with Mr. Singer’s premise. There is a certain appeal to accepting life as it comes and not resisting its challenges. I know folks who have discovered the good in the middle of the bad and handled some very terrible situations with dignity and kindness. I simply didn’t like the way he portrayed his own life.
Permit me to recommend Pema Chodron’s Fail, Fail Again, Fail Better for a more insightful look at this topic. It is based on a graduation address she gave a few years ago. It’s a far shorter read and more in line with my personal views and experiences of what it takes to truly give up control of life and to stop thinking that giving up is a sign of failure.