At a wellness event in Kolkata, renowned holistic lifestyle coach Luke Coutinho presented a powerful counter-intuitive idea for modern life: the art of surrender. The session, organized by the Indian Chamber of Commerce on January 8, explored how letting go of the need for control can be a profound source of liberation and health.
The Human Mind's Need for Control Creates Stress
Coutinho began by addressing a fundamental human wiring. He stated that the mind is inherently designed to seek control over people, situations, and future outcomes. This very urge, however, is a primary seed for anxiety and stress. "For what you can control, give your hundred percent," he advised. "For what you can’t—like the weather—you have to accept it and move on." He emphasized that the inability to let go creates internal resistance, and this resistance manifests as the stress that plagues daily life.
Surrender in Healing: Lessons from Critical Care
Drawing from his extensive experience working with end-of-life and cancer patients, Coutinho shared a critical observation. He noted that the healing process often finds its beginning the moment an individual accepts their condition and surrenders to the treatment journey. This could involve trusting in medication, committing to a lifestyle change, or undergoing a mindset shift. "Healing begins because resistance ends," he succinctly concluded. To illustrate this concept in action, he cited the example of a Stanford neurosurgeon who, after performing highly complex operations, consciously surrenders the outcome for the following 24 hours. This act is not negligence, but a disciplined practice of trust.
Surrender is Active Trust, Not Passive Giving Up
Coutinho was careful to clarify a common misconception. He explained that surrender is not about passivity or defeatism. Instead, it is an active state of trusting the process after one has done their absolute best. "That’s surrender—not giving up, but trusting the process," he defined. This shift from fighting reality to engaging with it peacefully brings a newfound clarity. "When you let go of control, you gain clarity," Coutinho said. This clarity is the foundation upon which true balance—physical, emotional, and spiritual—starts to align, leading to a more integrated and harmonious life.
