What are some fears you have about letting go? Mine are about trusting that  all is well regardless of appearances.  No matter how many times I have done that over the years, it still feels like the first time. Heart pounding, butterflies in my stomach, mind racing with the ‘what if’s’ a million miles a minute. It also connects with seed planting and then putting down the hoe and shovel until it is time to tend the garden, rather than digging up the dirt to see if the garden is blossoming. Patience is required for me to surrender.

Judith Orloff MD  who is a UCLA psychiatrist, intuitive healer, and NY Times bestselling author has had decades of experience helping people face those internal and external tremors. In her most recent book (launching on April 1st), “The Ecstasy of Surrender: 12 Surprising Ways Letting Go Can Empower Your Life” (Harmony Books, 2014), Orloff  beckons readers to take that leap into a new life, by utilizing specific tried and true techniques. Even the photo on the cover is an invitation to dance, stretch and soar. Just looking at it makes me want to put aside those sometimes fierce fears.

One of the things I most enjoyed about this book that now has post-it notes stuck in various pages throughout so that I can go back to them and pick up even more wisdom, is the variety of subjects under that single category of surrender. Orloff brings readers into the virtual classroom where learning is on their own schedule by introducing them to these subsets:

Intellectual surrender sets the stage for mental comprehension of all good reasons to let go, since the mind wants to understand the benefits.

Emotional surrender allows for feelings to be witnessed and relinquished so that they don’t sabotage our forward movement.

Physical/sensual surrender calls in the power of the body as it moves and stretches, drinking in the world with all senses fully enlivened.

Because she is a highly skilled intuitive and clinician, Orloff encourages tapping into those gifts as well, trusting the inner guidance that shows up daily. It too is a doorway to the success that everyone wants, regardless of the specifics. This reviewer opened to page 14 just now and saw one of the most important messages I could read at the moment: STOP COMPARING YOURSELF TO OTHERS.  Can I get a witness there, folks?  The book offers ways to let go of those critical thoughts such as:

Turn around your attitude (by claiming an attitude of gratitude for what you do have, rather than what you don’t.)

Give to others what you most desire for yourself. ( This is easy for me to do, and the challenge has been to allow it boomerang back.)

Learn from a rival’s positive points. (I take time to look at what someone is doing that works, since success leaves a trail.)

Wish a rival well.  (When I am able to see another and the success that they have achieved, without envy, I send them good juju for their dreams.)

Other chapters focus on concepts like money with the idea of surrendering shame and other worn out beliefs about the green stuff; body image and self care; sexuality and orgasm.

Nature is called upon as an ecstasy inducer; grounding ourselves by touching the earth, immersing in water, cloud watching, being gently blown by the winds of change.

Aging and the ultimate surrender at the end of life are celebrated as necessary transitions in this grand journey as Orloff encourages: “Lean into your heart, always. Hold back no goodness or passion. Treasure yourself and each other. Other hope, the hope of this planet and human evolution comes from our dedication to surrendering to the oneness and radiant life force of love.”

She is also the author of  “Second Sight” (Warner Books). Her second book, “Dr. Orloff’s: Guide to Intuitive Healing” (Three Rivers Press) shows how breakthroughs in healing our body, emotions, and sexuality can be accomplished by listening to intuition. “Positive Energy” which has been translated into 23 languages, takes a probing look at the American epidemic of exhaustion and how we can reverse it using specific strategies to build energy and combat draining people. Her New York Times Bestseller, “Emotional Freedom” describes how to transform negative emotions into positive ones with specific techniques. 

Come celebrate the New York launch of Judith’s new book The Ecstasy of Surrender: 12 Surprising Ways Letting Go Can Empower Your Life April 2 7PM at the New York Open Center and April 8 at Unity of New York. For more inspiration and Dr. Orloff’s tour schedule visit www.drjudithorloff.com