“Let what wants to come, come. Let what wants to go, go. If it is mine, it will stay. If not, whatever is better will replace it” ~ Tosha Silver

A year ago I tossed all of my vision boards into a sacred fire of surrender.

I burned the lists of desires and dreams I’d been writing for seven years and donated all of my new age if you want it, make it happen books to the used bookstore.

I’d become a manifestation addict.

I had to quit cold turkey.

I would cover my living space with affirmations, had a vision board in every room and journaled daily to get clear on what I wanted to manifest in my life. Soon enough, I received most, if not all, of the things I thought would make me happy. Yet, I still wasn’t fulfilled.

High paying job. Check.

Excitement and adventure. Check.

Love and community. Check.

So, what was I missing?

The Shift That Changed Everything.

After several years of forcing and pushing the universe to bend to my will, I was exhausted and I’d had enough.

The funny thing about personal transformation: it often comes from either exhaustion or evolution. Either way, shift happens.

I realized that even though my mind and intention were powerful, forcing something to happen based on my ego’s (small self’s) desires and sheer will power—through grasping and attachment—will only lead to more grasping and attachment.

In the end, when I was surrounded by everything I’d manifested, through pushing and forcing, fear that I’d lose it all would consume me. On top of that, the list of wants and desires never seemed to stop. As soon as I manifested one thing, a bigger and better thing was next. I was exhausted.

I knew I had to surrender to a Divine plan in order to find peace and freedom.

Going forward I only wanted what served the highest good for all.

Opening to a Divine Plan.

So I asked for help, because I often can’t just let go. Through consistent prayer offerings and meditation, I started to trust in an unknown future.

And my entire life began to change.

As I opened to a Divine plan for my life, the intense, burning desires melted into preferences and I was released from the mental slavery of, “I gotta get it, I gotta make it happen” that our culture often preaches.

The Real Gift.

I learned that the gift of surrender and offering is a way to filter the small self’s desires. Some of what I desired was for the highest good, some was not, and through surrender and offering, I was able to move forward with my life with confidence and peace.

What has your experience been with manifesting and what have you surrendered? Leave a comment below. I’d love to hear from you.

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Author: Angela Watson Robertson

Image: flickr/Coleen Galvin

Editors: Ashleigh Hitchcock; Caitlin Oriel