The Wisdom of Allowance, Surrender and Humility
Allowance, surrender, and humility are interconnected virtues, often discussed in spiritual or personal development contexts, that foster patience, acceptance, and a relinquishing of personal control. They are viewed as pathways to inner peace, better relationships, and alignment with a higher purpose or flow of life.
Allowance
- Definition: Allowance in this context means being patient with others, bearing with their faults because of love, and accepting circumstances as they are rather than trying to force outcomes.
- Application: It involves giving people the grace and space to be human, acknowledging that everyone has shortcomings. It also means allowing life to unfold naturally without constantly trying to control every detail, thus reducing stress and anxiety.
Surrender
- Definition: Surrender is the act of letting go of one’s own will, ego, and need for control, often by yielding to a higher power (such as God, the Universe, or a greater wisdom). It is not a sign of weakness, but an act of strength that involves acknowledging one’s limitations and inviting greater guidance and strength.
- Application: It can involve surrendering personal desires, relationships, or positions in order to live a life aligned with a deeper purpose. It means trusting in a process or divine timing rather than relying solely on self-effort. A key example is Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, praying for God’s will to be done, not His own.
Humility
- Definition: Humility is a posture of modesty, lowliness, and service, recognizing that one is not the most important being and that every gift or achievement comes from outside the self. It is the root of all other graces and virtues.
- Application: Practicing humility means putting others’ needs before one’s own, serving others, and being teachable and open to guidance. It involves having a “broken spirit” that is open to receiving correction and acknowledging a need for help. Humility before God is considered a prerequisite for divine blessings and being lifted up in His timing.
Relationship Between the Three
Humility and surrender are deeply intertwined virtues, with humility often seen as the foundation for true surrender.
- Humility is the necessary condition: It takes humility to admit that one cannot manage life on their own and needs help.
- Surrender is the action: Based on that humble admission, one takes the action of surrendering control and ego-driven desires.
- Allowance is the outcome/practice: The result of this combined approach is an “allowance” of the natural or divine flow, leading to peace and alignment with a greater plan.
Essentially, an attitude of humility makes the act of surrender possible, which in turn leads to the practice of allowance in life and relationships.
- Allowance involves accepting circumstances, faults in others, or the natural flow of life without trying to force an outcome that aligns with one’s ego or expectations. It’s about bearing with one another in love and patience, recognizing human limitations and imperfections.
- Surrender is the act of relinquishing personal will, control, and self-sufficiency, often to a higher power (like God, the Universe, or a greater wisdom). It doesn’t imply weakness but rather a conscious choice to trust in divine timing and guidance, which can lead to strength and new possibilities.
- Humility is a core virtue of having a modest or low view of one’s importance, a teachable spirit, and a focus on serving others rather than self-promotion. It involves acknowledging one’s dependence on God or a greater force and recognizing that all gifts and victories come from outside oneself.
Relationship Between the Three
These three concepts are deeply intertwined:
- Humility is a prerequisite for surrender and allowance. It takes humility to admit that one cannot control everything or that one’s own understanding is limited.
- Surrender is an active expression of humility. When a person surrenders their will, they are demonstrating a humble posture of trust and obedience to a higher authority or the flow of life.
- Allowance is the day-to-day practice of both humility and surrender. It manifests in everyday interactions by patiently making allowances for others’ faults and accepting situations as they are rather than fighting against them out of pride or the need for control.
Ultimately, embracing these virtues is seen as a way to align one’s life with a larger, more meaningful purpose, leading to reduced stress and increased fulfillment.
“It all belongs in LOVE”