“The pain is not in the surrender and acceptance. It’s in the resistance.” – Hope for Today
Here’s how it works for me. First, some person, place, thing or situation doesn’t meet my ‘reasonable’ expectation. Next, I’m upset and would like to get what I want. Finally, I try to change that person, place, thing or situation, while hopefully remaining sane, calm and kind. This is normal, and, in my opinion, even healthy. The problem occurs when my efforts fail. At that point, as long as I don’t keep trying to control it or them, I experience just a little pain. It’s only when I’m unwilling to surrender my efforts at control, until I get my way, that the real suffering begins. Today, I choose to surrender and remember there are no big deals, except that ILML! 

– JamieQ