The Power of Surrender: Let Go and Energize Your Relationships, Success, and Well-Being

by Judith Orloff

Are you longing for your life to be easier and more fun? Would you like to stop pushing, micromanaging, and forcing things so you can relax? What if you could enjoy what you have instead of always lusting for “more”? What if you could live in “the zone,” propelled by powerful currents toward the right people and opportunities? What if you could stop worrying about money and live with more emotional ease in the moment? If you answer “yes” to all these questions and desire lasting positive change, then prepare to experience the ecstasy of surrender.      The art of letting go, Dr. Judith Orloff explains, is the secret key to manifesting power and success in all areas of  life, including work, relationships, sexuality, radiant aging, and health and healing. In our superconnected world where emails and text messages constantly interrupt us, it’s easier to let go than you think. Once embraced, surrendering removes roadblocks and the exhaustion that comes from “trying too hard”—and it helps you achieve goals more effortlessly and brings ongoing happiness.      With her stunning gift for storytelling coupled with her unique, results-oriented approach to physical, emotional, and spiritual health—marrying neuroscience, psychiatry, intuitive medicine, energy techniques, and more—Judith provides a powerful, practical, and accessible map for anyone who is longing to be happier but who feels stuck, burned-out, tense, worried, or afraid to let go.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Psychology, Relationships, Spirituality, Personal Development, Audiobook

434 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 6, 2015

About the author

Judith Orloff, MD is a psychiatrist, an empath, and author of the recent book "The Genius of Empathy" (Foreword by the Dalai Lama) which offers powerful skills to tap into empathy as a daily healing practice. Her upcoming children’s book "The Highly Sensitive Rabbit" is about a caring rabbit who learns to embrace her gifts of sensitivity through the kindness of loving animals. Her other books include "The Empath’s Survival Guide" and "Thriving as an Empath."

Dr. Orloff is a New York Times bestselling author and a UCLA psychiatric clinical faculty member. She synthesizes the pearls of conventional medicine with cutting-edge knowledge of intuition, energy, and spirituality. Dr. Orloff specializes in treating highly sensitive people in her private practice. She has been featured on The Today Show, CNN, Oprah Magazine, and in the New York Times and Scientific American. Learn more about the power of empathy at www.drjudithorloff.com

Reviews

[Taylor Mabry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book at the right time in my life. Needed this

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are several ways to think about this book. One is that it represents a western doctor's attempt to take basic rules for good living and add in the best of eastern thought -- meditation, the less-is-more, don't-strive-to-possess sense of non-attachment, yoga, and all the other sorts of practices and thinking that have been introduced to the western world, especially in the last 40 years (and are fashionable on the east and west coasts of America). Another is that it is an exploration of how far trusting your gut will get you in life -- at work, in relationships, in personal health, and so on. And a third is in fact what is claimed by the title -- using the surrender-rather-than-strive mode of responding to life to let all the good things flow into it, rather than struggling to possess everything the western world indicates that it's good to possess.

So I found it to be less about surrender than the magic that is invoked when you slow down just a little, trust a little more, and think in terms of abundance rather than craving. Most of the advice is good, much of it is excellent, and while the book occasionally seemed to become a kind of spiritual tourism, just visiting some ancient traditions rather than really comprehending them, I am persuaded that it is heartfelt and well meant. I suspect that Dr. Orloff would be an excellent dinner guest and a good friend to know if you were facing some of life's more difficult chapters.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great reminders, a little too entry-level at times. Would give it more stars if it was someone's first spirituality/surrender-type book; otherwise I did like the focus on surrendering overall, and appreciate her personality and approach to various aspects of it (nature, money, relationships, health, career).

[Dilia Narduzzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this on audible and it was a companionable listen as the author's voice is soothing. I like some of the ideas here, but it veers heavily into the woo category in many spots, even beyond the woo that I normally am attuned with. Also, it would be a full-time job to implement all of the suggestions the author has. A very long listen, something like 14 or 15 hours.

[Kate]

This book resonated with me in many ways. I love the idea of surrendering--a kind of radical going with the flow--and she gives many examples of ways to harness this gentle power in our lives. She also offers up mantras we can use that focus on surrender. I wrote a few in my journal, and even the act of doing that felt good. The whole book builds up to a super-powerful last chapter about the ultimate surrender, death. This chapter alone is worth the price of the book.

[Nicole Iafolla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok book but gets repetitive

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hello, Book Power of Surrender: by Judith Orloff. Published on May 4th 2018.
I really enjoyed this book for all the self-help reasons, I enjoyed reading it because it had helped me to relax. This book will help you to start enjoying what you have, instead of chasing rainbows, so to speak. We must learn to surrender and let go, every one of us as people, at some point encounter a situation that gets in the way of who we are and what we feel we can bear, and sometimes pushes us past our limits. The power of surrender: Let Go and Energize Your Relationships, Success and well-Being, this book will help you with great coping strategies. Also gives us the power to change. You can transform your weakness into power. And as a pastor, I do not believe when one surrenders they are weak. Our bible tells us in (Romans 6:13) that God demands that we surrender the totality of our selves; He wants the whole, not a part. This book, for sure, will bring into the light. If you would like to put your worrying behind you in all aspects, please read this book!
I appreciate all of you listening, Pastor, Carrie L. Hayes

[A · Rating 2 out of 5]

I appreciate Judith and her work as an intuitive and empath. Her merit based titles and education lend credibility to the topics.

However, this book needs updating in terms of gender, relationships, sex. As a certified sexual health professional, her biases (repackaged from our culture) stood out to me like neon signs but under her title as a doctor likely get taken for granted. That’s the frustration with print media, updates are difficult to push through publishing houses and rarely get addressed.

[Julie Duck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her work is always good. The general tone of this book is similar to her others, and sometimes it seems to overlap; however, she conveys several insights into why surrender is the way to go with those things in life that affect us most. Remember that she is an intuitive and a psychiatrist-a unique blend that I find particularly fantastic for scientific evidence and good, old-fashioned alternative living.

[Rubina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read loaded with wonderful insights on living a life of non resistance, which does not mean being passive but redefining what is success, cultivating effective communications, building open, loving relationships, harmonizing with our health and aging issues and discovering joy in our daily lives.

[Maggi Andersen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great book on harnessing the power of one's intuition, but also a little too "woo," especially for a doctor. The parts on energy healing, and the over-sharing of the author's sexual proclivities were very off-putting.

If you insist on reading this book, avoid the audiobook, which is read in an annoying monotone.

[Jodi Hartman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy this author as she has written several books about highly sensitive people. This book focuses more on creativity, relationships and surrendering to the idea that you have to be as true to yourself as you can be. Again, this book is a fairly specific audience and even with an audiobook, this book was a bit lengthy to me. I just wanted to focus on certain chapters.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Message I needed

Surrender is a glorious journey into ourselves. If you can savor each chapter and let it wash over you, you will find like I did, a softening of the heart. We live in a glorious world.

[Heather Mangan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Couldn’t finish. The first three chapters were great, especially the money chapter. But then I got the to the “reading people” part and had to stop. Even as a psychotherapist, it was too much for me.

[J. figueroa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The art of surrender

Insightful text full of useful and well explained its bits geared to improve oneself in an endless search of joy as a state of being.

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need this audiobook running on a constant loop in my brain!

[Niki Walters]

This is a must read for living life, I can't believe how many helpful topics it covered. I also love the way she uses words.

[Brooke Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Changed my perspective

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very helpful book, full of insights and wisdom. This is the kind of book I would return to again and again. Thank you Judith.

[Andrea Brinkley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really had to pick and choose what i wanted from this book. There’s a lot of useful and helpful discussion of letting go, but there’s also a lot of what I think is kooky, over the top stuff that doesn’t seem to fit for me. Like when she felt like a tree made love to her. Not only is that nutso, but frankly seems itchy and scratchy for the nethers.

[Yazaid Ahmed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Judith has put tremendous effort into this book I loved it and read it till the end.

I loved this book since I was surprised it coincided with some beliefs I already had and I was surprised that someone on the other side of the world is thinking the same thoughts. The power of surrender summarizes it all.

The only part which stood out to me that I strongly didnt agree with is calling out to angels and saints. To me surrender should only be to the Creator and sereneity will come down.

Other than that the book is a magnifcent piece of art. It keeps you calm from cover to cover.

I would recommend it for those stressed out because they think they have to control everything in their lives.

[Esther Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes I just have to stop resisting the challenges and problems I face. I didn't know much about how to surrender to "what is" but Judith Orloff is an MD with a very kind way of walking a person through the surrender process, without making one feel like a dummy. She herself has been through many challenges and has learned much about the process whether dealing with issues in relationships at work or socially. She offers great suggestions and tips to make the process of surrender easier. I bought the audible.com version and listened to the book which was narrated by the author herself. Judith Orloff has a very soothing voice. I would recommend this book to anyone.

[Maria (Ri) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so enjoyed listening to this audio, that I ordered a paper copy to keep. This is the type of book you can read several times and glean new information each time, based on where you are in your life. I love the idea of surrender and liked exploring all the various arenas it plays out in my life. This is a reference I'll be referring to for years to come!

[Norena McMeel · Rating 5 out of 5]

great insight for helping yourself