I believe in God. Maybe you don’t. One of the things that I’ve learned in my years is the importance of surrendering to a higher power.

I understand that many do not believe in God or a higher power.

And that is your right.

I want o take a different approach to why I focus on surrendering to a higher power. I have tried so hard in my life to push and work and try to make all the necessary changes in my behavior that I can to learn healthier ways of interacting with people and accepting my past.

As a child, I grew up in an alcoholic and dysfunctional family, and those unhealthy behavior patterns have been difficult to unlearn.

What I’ve learned is that it’s not so much the importance of God as an almighty power in the universe that is controlling and pulling the strings of everything, but rather the surrendering within myself.

I have learned that to grow and become healthier that I need to let go and surrender.

This might seem odd or contradictory to what we’ve been taught all our lives. For example, the importance of owning up and taking responsibility for our faults, and the harm we have down to others is critical.

However, the other day I brought up the first step in Adult Children of Alcoholics Anonymous:

“We admitted we were powerless over the effects of alcoholism or other family dysfunction, that our lives had become unmanageable.”

As kids, we were powerless over the effects of what we grew up with. And out of that environment, our lives had become filled with problems. Now we are adults, and we have an opportunity to surrender to something greater than ourselves.

Why would we do this?

You don’t have to. I’m only saying that this path is what I have chosen to do. When I surrender to a higher power, what that means to me is that I’m surrounding by the part of me that’s aligned with creation. I believe that we are all part of God’s creation and that our higher power makes up the totality of existence. When I let go of my ego and focus on a more universal acceptance of my inner self, that’s when I find my strength.

But how?

I am a part of creation as are you.

By surrendering myself to a higher power, it allows me to tap into the creative strength of existence. I take the emphasis off of me and focus on the universal.

I leap of faith in that there’s more to every day than my little corner of the world.

The work that I do with the Twelve Steps is clearing away the past, making amends with those I have harmed, and striving to be a better person.

If you do not believe in God and are having trouble believing in a higher power, that’s okay. What works for me may not work for you.

As you go about your day, ask yourself: What do you believe and why? What helps you to overcome your problems?

For today, look deep into yourself and come to terms with who you are and where you want to be in your life. If that’s not with God, I’m not here to judge you. I’m only here to share with you what’s worked for me.

Like what you’ve read? Be sure to check out my other posts in my Let Go and Be Free blog.