Trust and Surrender: How to Let Go of Control and Trust the Universe

By Nicole, Founder of Mystic Ryst

Surrender is not giving up—it's letting go of the illusion of control and trusting that the universe has your back. It's releasing your tight grip on how things should unfold and allowing life to flow. When you surrender, you stop fighting against the current and start flowing with it. Paradoxically, when you let go of control, you gain true power.

What Is Surrender

Surrender is releasing attachment to outcomes, trusting the process, accepting what is, and having faith that everything is unfolding for your highest good—even when you can't see how.

What Surrender Is NOT

Not giving up or being passive. Not avoiding responsibility. Not accepting abuse. Surrender is active trust, not passive resignation.

Why We Struggle to Surrender

Fear of losing control. Not trusting the universe. Need for certainty. Past experiences of being let down. Belief that we must force things to happen. Difficulty with uncertainty.

The Illusion of Control

You can't control most of life—other people, outcomes, timing, circumstances. The only thing you truly control is your response. Trying to control everything creates stress, anxiety, and exhaustion. Surrender brings peace.

What to Surrender

Control: You can't control everything. Let go.

Outcomes: Do your best, release the rest.

Timing: Trust divine timing, not your timeline.

How it happens: Focus on what, not how.

Other people: You can't change them. Let them be.

The past: It's gone. Release it.

The future: It hasn't happened. Trust it.

How to Surrender

1. Accept What Is

Stop resisting reality. What is, is. Acceptance doesn't mean you like it—just that you stop fighting it.

2. Trust the Process

Even when you can't see the path, trust you're being guided. Everything is unfolding perfectly.

3. Let Go of the How

Know what you want, but release attachment to how it comes. The universe knows better routes than you can imagine.

4. Release Control

Do what you can, then let go. You've done your part. Trust the universe to do its part.

5. Have Faith

Faith is trusting what you can't see. Believe that you're supported, guided, and loved.

Surrender Practices

Prayer of surrender: "I surrender this to you. Thy will be done."

Visualization: Imagine placing your worry in God's/Universe's hands

Breathwork: Breathe in trust, breathe out control

Affirmations: "I trust the process. I surrender control."

Meditation: Sit in surrender. Feel the relief of letting go.

Trust Affirmations

I trust the universe. Everything is unfolding perfectly. I surrender control. I am guided and supported. Divine timing is perfect. I trust the process of life. I let go and let God. All is well.

Surrender and Action

Surrender doesn't mean doing nothing. Take inspired action, then surrender the outcome. Do your best, release the rest. Work as if everything depends on you, surrender as if everything depends on the universe.

When Surrender Is Hard

Start small. Surrender small things first. Build trust muscle. Notice when surrender brings relief. Celebrate moments of letting go. It gets easier with practice.

The Peace of Surrender

When you truly surrender, you feel lighter, freer, more peaceful. The burden lifts. You stop struggling. You flow. You trust. You're held. This is the gift of surrender.

Final Thoughts

You are not in control, and that's okay. You're not meant to carry everything. The universe is conspiring for your highest good. When you surrender, you align with that flow. Let go. Trust. Surrender. You are held. You are guided. You are loved. Everything is unfolding exactly as it should.