I recently got a long letter from someone who wanted to know if it makes a difference to "go with the flow" and surrender one's will to the universal spirit force, or to willfully and intentionally create what one desires. This letter said:

I've been into a lot of the same books and ideas you have about mind/thoughts being the shaper of your reality. The idea that I see conflicts with it to some extent, is the idea of spiritual surrender. To have no resistance, to love what comes, to accept what arrives from the Universe, to surrendering to the dictates of your soul -- this is supposed to be the ultimate action.

Sometimes when I take this path, things in my life flow wonderfully; other times, nothing happens, nothing at all. Sometimes when I do visualizations and monitor my thoughts things in my life flow wonderfully; other times, nothing happens, nothing at all.

I don't understand surrender. I don't understand how one's visualizations fail to materialize. I'm told that everything happens for the bet, that each moment is perfect and there are no mistakes. Yet my life feels riddled with failure and loneliness.

Am I doing these things to myself? Or is some gentle Benevolence leading me somewhere for my highest good and I can trust it. Shall I stop reaching out and just abide, or do I go against the tide and keep trying?