The journey of surrender has been the single most difficult, and impactful of my life. It’s been a process of letting go of absolutely everything I’ve been carrying, including everything I love. Places, loved ones (both human and animal), and “things” such as photos and physical items.
I was doing rather well on that front, until returning to Brazil awakened a familiar sensation of deep want and preference 👹 that had been laying low for quite some time.
The old me would've seen this as a sign to use everything in my power to force this into reality. After all, pushing through did get things done for me in the past.
However, one of the deepest lessons I’ve learnt is that,
…when something feels like life-or-death, it means there’s something to be worked through, not to be obeyed.
In other words, a sense of urgency and deep desire are usually signs of the mind, heart and body working through old patterns, not signals of intuition or inner guidance.
Intense desires and preferences often come from conditioned patterns rather than deeper wisdom, and one of the easiest ways to separate between the soul and the other languages is to notice if there’s reactivity present. The soul speaks in peaceful knowing, not in strong reactions.
Survival, or surrender?
Feeling want or desire of course does not mean taking no action either. Going with the flow like a dead fish in the river isn’t the goal here.
I'm doing what I can to apply for visas that could allow me to stay here for a year or two, but there's no clear or easy path to permanent residency. This state of limbo outside my control is perhaps the greatest lesson of all. How to create a home in a place that might just be taken away?
Most people see getting what they want as life's ultimate goal. But what if true happiness isn't about getting what you want, but learning to both enjoy and let go of the things your mind and heart want to cling to the most?
This experience might be my greatest lesson in surrender, and I don’t mean giving up. I mean taking guided action while accepting reality as it unfolds. Regardless of my personal preference for any specific outcome.
Taking it as a lesson to keep building a life I love (AKA applying for visas to stay in a place that deeply nurtures my soul), while simultaneously releasing my inner peace being attached to this physical place. 🙏
The capoeira between intention, and forcing,
Are you living your life planning and pushing for things you are deeply attached to achieving? Does it ever feel like unless your wants and desires come true, you will never be truly happy?
If the answer is yes, what you seek might not come from your carefully planned and manifested preferences coming true, but from releasing your attachments to them.
After all, when have you *ever* gotten what you wanted and been fully satisfied until the end? My guess is never, because wants and desires are an unlimited resource that keep coming as long as they’re entertained.
Luckily there’s another way.
A path of listening and nurturing your whole being, instead of just trying to deliver to the endless demands of the mind and the heart.
If you've ever wondered how to balance intentionality with surrender in your life, join our upcoming live sessions 👇
In our first session we’ll create our individual vision boards to deeply align our intentions for the mind 🧠, heart ❤️, body 💪 and soul 💨 for the rest of 2025. 👇
In the second session we’ll explore with Rachel Korb how to listen to your body to create a life that fulfills your whole being. 👇
The Four Languages framework offers a unique approach to this balance between intentionality and surrender. By tuning into your mind, heart, body, and soul, you can take aligned action without forcing outcomes.
It's about creating a vision that honors all parts of you while remaining open to how that vision might unfold in unexpected ways. 🧠❤️💪💨
Curious: How do you balance planning with remaining open to life's surprises? It feels like one of life's most challenging lessons to learn.
With love and light,
Maaria