LIVE, LEARN, & LOVE
Do you take delight in watching films,
listening to pop music, or reading books? For English learners, movies, songs,
and books are one of the most wonderful sources to explore the language! You
can indulge in your favorite pastime and still learn some expressions, words of
wisdom, and oftentimes good lessons while you’re at it.
#65. Letting Go: The Pathway of Surrender
(authored by David R. Hawkins, M.D. Ph.D.)
This book
teaches us about a simple and effective means by which to let go of the
obstacles to Enlightenment and become free of negativity in life. During the
many decades of the author’s clinical psychiatric practice, the primary aim was
to seek the most effective ways to relieve human suffering in all of its many forms.
The mechanism of surrender described by Dr. Hawkins in the book can be done in
the midst of everyday life.
“Confusion
is our salvation. For the confused, there is still hope. Hang on to your
confusion. In the end it is your best friend, your best defense against the deathliness
of others’ answers, against being raped by their ideas. If you are confused,
you are still free. If you are confused, this book is for you.”
ð Dr.
Hawkins explains that confusion can actually lead to growth and understanding.
When we admit that we do not have all the answers, we stay open-minded and
avoid blindly accepting rigid beliefs or assertions from others. He suggests
that being in the state of confusion helps break down old ways of thinking,
creating space for deeper insight and true intellectual freedom. By letting go
of the ego’s need for certainty and control, we can reach a more genuine and
unconditioned sense of freedom.
“It is
the accumulated pressure of feelings that causes thoughts. One feeling, for
instance, can create literally thousands of thoughts over a period of time. Think,
for instance, of one painful memory from early life, one terrible regret that
has been hidden. Look at all the years and years of thoughts associated with
that single event. If we could surrender the underlying painful feeling, all of
those thoughts would disappear instantly and we would forget the event.”
ð Dr.
David Hawkins explains that emotions are the driving force behind many of our
thoughts. According to him, unresolved feelings create internal pressure, and
when those emotions are continuously suppressed, they often appear as
repetitive or obsessive thinking patterns. Instead of thoughts creating
emotions, he suggests the opposite way around through which emotions fuel
thoughts.
He emphasizes that a single feeling,
such as fear, guilt, or shame, can generate endless mental noise (which is
thoughts) over time. Therefore, one can surrender as the process of allowing a
feeling to arise without resisting, judging, or trying to control it. By fully
experiencing the emotion and letting its energy pass naturally by waiting, the
emotional pressure dissolves. Once the feeling loses its intensity, the
thoughts connected to it also fade away because they no longer have energy staining
them.
“The
real source of “stress” is actually internal; it is not external, as people
would like to believe. The readiness to react with fear, for instance, depends
on how much fear is already within to be triggered by a stimulus.”
ð
According to Dr. Hawkins, stress does not
truly come from external situations or circumstances we’re in, but from
unresolved emotions already stored within us. According to his view, outside
events simply act as triggers that release inner emotional pressure, such as
fear, anger, guilt, or anxiety.
He compares our mind to a
reservoir filled with suppressed feelings. When these emotions build up over
time, even a small external event can create a strong stress reaction. In
contrast, someone with less accumulated emotional pressure may be more poised
and respond calmly to the same situation. People become more vulnerable to
stress when they constantly repress emotions instead of acknowledging them. As
a result, suppressed feelings create ongoing inner tension that seeks an
outlet, making emotional reactions seem automatic and unavoidable.
Thus, the practice of “letting go”
involves allowing emotions to surface and pass naturally rather than resisting
or suppressing them. By gradually releasing this stored emotional energy, a
person becomes less reactive to external circumstances and experiences greater
emotional freedom and peace.
“The
more we let go, the more we de-glamorize the world. The more it is
de-glamorized, the less it runs us. We are not at the effect of glamour and can
no longer be manipulated by it. We are no longer vulnerable to the professional
programmers of the media and the political and social arenas. We are no longer
at the effect of an inner need for approval from others.”
ð In
this passage, we learn that true freedom comes from releasing our emotional
attachments, ego-driven desires, and limiting beliefs. As we let go of these
inner attachments, we begin to see beyond the illusions of status, material
success, and external validation, allowing us to finally experience greater
clarity and inner peace.
Dr. Hawkins suggests that
the world loses much of its emotional control over us when we stop idealizing
appearances, achievements, or possessions. External circumstances no longer
have the same power to excite, disappoint, or define our sense of worth because
we recognize their temporary nature. He also explains that
freedom from emotional dependency makes us less vulnerable to manipulation by
media, politics, or social pressures that rely on fear, desire, or outrage to
influence people. Instead of reacting automatically, we become more grounded
and self-aware.
When self-worth is no
longer tied to praise, acceptance, or recognition from others, we gain genuine
independence and emotional stability. Ultimately, “letting go” is
not withdrawing from life, but surrendering the ego’s attachments so we can
move through life with greater peace, freedom, and authenticity.
** Jean’s Small Thoughts:
To me, Dr.
David R. Hawkins’s book Letting Go feels like a meditative guidebook for living
peacefully. In today’s world, many of us rely heavily on social media to stay
connected and share our thoughts with others. Because of this, we can easily
become affected by people’s comments, reactions, or even the lack of them. For
some, harsh responses may feel better than no response at all because silence
can feel like invisibility or nonexistence. This book reminds us that we should
never measure our worth based on other people’s opinions or attitudes.
I used to be
sensitive to what others thought about me as well, and to some extent, I still
am. However, over time, I became deeply inspired by the Buddha’s teachings on
mindfulness and awareness of our own feelings. When we allow emotions to arise
naturally without immediately trying to suppress, fix, or escape them, we
become less reactive and less easily angered by life’s small frustrations.
As Dr.
Hawkins explains, what we hold inside ourselves shapes the way we see the
world. The practice of “letting go” offers genuine freedom because it teaches
us to acknowledge our feelings without becoming controlled by them. Instead of
reacting impulsively, we can simply recognize repetitive thoughts, identify the
emotions beneath them, and notice how those emotions feel within the body.
Rather than
endlessly analyzing or trying to “fix” every thought, the goal is to calmly
allow the feeling to exist until it naturally fades away. Over time, memories
may remain, but their emotional weight becomes lighter or disappears
completely. Perhaps this is how we learn to live more peacefully and
lightheartedly—without constantly seeking approval, validation, or compliments
from others.
Accept
yourself and stay happy.
