Letting Go: The Pathway of Surrender by David R. Hawkins – Reviewed by Guy Portman
This self-help book is dedicated to the process of letting go. Its author advocates allowing feelings to be present, as opposed to repressing them. The resulting sensation might be intense he states, but when we surrender it quickly dissipates. He argues that this strategy is an effective way of disposing of the festering thoughts and feelings that impinge on our quality of life. The underlying theory is that it is not our thoughts we need to concern ourselves with, but the feelings behind them.
This is a revealing book penned by a scientist with alternative tendencies. There is a lot to recommend it. Above all the promise that when surrendering becomes a habit, we will attain a more rewarding existence. While there is considerable repetition, this is necessary in order to ingrain the idea in the reader’s mind.
One criticism is the dearth of practical instruction as to how to let go. There is also a lot of pseudo-science, some of which is far-fetched and controversial. Despite these misgivings, there is a lesson to be learnt here regarding limiting past and future anxieties.
Letting Go is not this cynical creature’s typical reading fare. Despite embracing the text’s theory, he continues to be engulfed with negative thoughts. As for gaining profound peace, this still seems unattainable without opioids.
