Letting Go: The Pathway of Surrender

I found this book to be really helpful, in fact that’s an understatement, it was life-changing for me. All the other reviews, even the negative ones are true - it’s simple, it’s repetitive but somehow this book unlocked some things for me. I find that many times the simplest truths are the most impactful which I would say is true in this case. I do a lot of reading books such as this one by Tolle, Course in Miracles, Deepak Chopra, Easwaran, etc and this one helped put it all together and it made sense in a way that was actionable. When I started reading the book I was very depressed and apathetic. I felt trapped and like I was going thru the motions of every day life but without joy. Right from the beginning of the book it struck a cord with me as he described all of the desperate things people do to try to avoid their feelings. I thought, this is me! It was like holding a mirror up and I saw my sadness and drain of energy to avoid my feelings and at the same time the desperate flailing about looking for anything to help make me feel better. Within the first few chapters I was able to identify some old repressed feelings and just by recognizing they were there, I think it released them. I feel so much better. I equate it to a ball that is being held under water and when it is released it shoots up. That’s what it felt like. But I wondered could it be that simple? I’m learning apparently in my case it can - it seems it is.While it is true that Dr Hawkins doesn’t really describe in detail the actual mechanics of letting go, for me just identifying the emotion, recognizing it was there was enough to release it. I am not sure if this book would have had the same impact had I not done extensive reading of other authors, hard to say, but this one helped all the concepts to coalesce for me.The other thing that I found helpful was the spirit of acceptance and understanding. I no longer feel shame or guilt over my less noble feelings such as jealousy, competitiveness, arrogance, pride, or anger. I can recognize them for what they are as part of my human condition and the programming of my past. I can work thru them without hiding them or the added burden of guilt or shame and release them. That, in and of itself, is a powerful thing and a great gift that I received from this book.I would recommend this book to anyone and hope that it has the same positive, life-changing effect on you that it had for on me.

Eminently readable, this book can be read on its own or following the reading of its predecessor, "Power vs Force", which provides a very useful background to Hawkins' work in general.Hawkins presents the subject of the pervasive underlying power of emotions and their relationship to thoughts. The interplay of these two are the motivators of our behavior. He clearly demonstrates that thoroughly dealing with emotions has the power to cut short the endless cycling and recycling of negative thoughts and mitigate, then eventually to lay to rest the energies that drain us as they feed negativity. This freed-up energy can then be used in positive, constructive ways in our day-to-day lives. In short, through this, we can raise our internal energies of consciousness to higher and higher levels as we shed the lower energy emotions. Higher energy emotions then infuse our lives and enable us to continue the upward cycle.Hawkins explains the technique of "letting go" as allowing whatever negative emotions we have: letting them arise, then sitting with them for as long as it takes, letting them fill us. While this may be painful, it is nevertheless an acute and temporary experience and compared to the chronic pain and negative influences we experience from holding onto these emotions, it is a worthwhile effort to rid ourselves of them. In a sense, it's an internal cleansing and detoxification. Anyone who has ever done a body "detox" or "cleanse" will know that the temporary discomfort of it is well worth the incredible result.Hawkins makes clear the importance of revisiting recurring emotions that may arise after initial "letting go" efforts. Most of us have lifelong inner "baggage" to release. We can start with this process and release much of it, thus freeing the remaining suppressed and repressed emotions that lie beneath. As they arise, we can let go of these in the same manner, as many times as it may take. He also stresses the importance of regular "maintenance" by continuing the process as and when new situations in life trigger new emotions.Hawkins' book presents whole chapters explaining the nature of a number of key negative and then positive emotional levels. Through concrete examples, he enables any reader to grasp the subject. Additionally, he explains the mechanism of "letting go" numerous times, and offers a section of FAQs, as well as an extensive appendix on the subject of the kinesiological muscle testing technique.The subject matter and style are deceptively simple, but provide an elegantly profound presentation of a technique that has the potential to dramatically change the way we live, work and interact as individuals, societies, and as a world community. As an educator and health care professional myself, I highly recommend this book and would love to see it as required reading for schools. Anyone with a modicum of willingness & openness can truly benefit from this book.