To view this newsletter in the browser, click here                 Issue #121       A newsletter from Creativegarh to help you live a life of passion, purpose and meaning.         Live your life forwards. Look at it backwards.                     There's a difference between active surrender and passive surrender. Passive surrender is surrender from a space of fear, hopelessness, waiting for miracles and still trying to control the outcome.           Active surrender comes from a space of love and being an active participant in your life. Of playing life from the centre field, not from the sidelines. Of living in the intimacy of trust and hope. Of making miracles a part of your storyline. Of letting go of control. Or trusting that the outcome of everything that you show up for will be for your higher good even if it doesn't seem like that in this present moment.           Play your life forward. And trust that everything is happening for you, not to you. Higher consciousness is about trusting the universe. Trust comes when you fully surrender. And surrender doesn't mean that you let go of free will. It means that you let go of everything that is not in your control.           But as you play life forward, look at it backwards and you will see that every dot connects. Every. Every action, inaction, every word, relationship, event, book, lesson, book, movie, job... everything connects in the divine order of the universe. And as you look backwards, you look at your life in awe to see how far you have come. And the farther you want to go from here depends on how deep you are willing to go inside you.           But keep moving forward. Sometimes it's very tempting to go back to the places that gave us a sense of security but didn't allow you to spread your wings. The child can't go back into the womb, the butterfly can't go back into the chrysalis, the chick can't go back into its shell.           You cannot create the new if you still have one foot in the old. You need to have both feet planted firmly in the new and realise that with every step forward on your spiritual path the new step will become the old when you look back at it.           Show up for your purpose. Show up for the things that give you joy. Show up for yourself. Live life forward and look back only in awe and pride, not regret, guilt or shame.                 What controls you keeps you chained. What you let go sets you free.                     What triggers you, controls you. It controls your thoughts, your choices, your behaviours, your experiences, your emotions.           Because the same thoughts on loop become beliefs and lead to the same choices. Same choices lead to the same behaviours. Same behaviours lead to the same experiences. Same experiences lead to the same emotions. Same emotions drive the same thoughts again and again that fortify the beliefs making them stronger. And it becomes an unending vicious cycle.           What else is controlling you? A toxic relationship? Trauma from childhood? Unpaid bills? The illness of a loved one? The hatred of a neighbour? The rebuke of a teacher? The rejection of a spouse? The comments of a boss? The rumour about your crush? The fear of losing a loved one? The two blue ticks but still unresponsed to message? The war in the Gaza? The war with your insecurities? The spat with the security guard? The argument with your mother? The episode from when you were a teen? The anger of your father leaving you? The unmet expectations from your brother? The letting down by your business partner? The guilt, shame, anger, regret, grudge, envy is what's controlling you.           Anything more that is controlling you?           Every affection that has become attachment is what’s not allowing you to be free. The human connections we form that bring us happiness and fulfillment from outside of us. The attachment with your loved ones, a form of dependence, going against the transient nature of the universe? The holding on to a relationship that has already breathed its last? The attachment to a goal and the outcome of your actions - phala. The attachment to the action itself - karma? The attachment to the body for permanence and ego - deha and ahankara.           Attachment is the emotional bond that arises from desires, expectations, and the belief that external objects or relationships are essential for our well-being. Maya or illusion comes to the party here.           Not all attachments make us suffer. But the attachment that leads to dependency and suffering is what controls us and leads us away from our unconditional self hindering our spiritual growth.       Our upcoming retreats                         Mandi Last 1 Seats Left 1st to 7th December     Mandi’s tranquil environment serves as the perfect backdrop for personal metamorphosis, ensuring you return home with a revitalized spirit and fresh perspective of life!   More details     Reignite conversation     CG Teens, Mumbai Registrations Open 21st to 22nd December     This non-residential 2-day retreat is designed to help teenagers reconnect with their authenticity and inner guidance system to create a joyful life.   More details     Reignite conversation     Kasauli Registrations Open 4th to 10th January     The stunning vistas and holistic experiences at Kasauli create the perfect space for self-discovery, and ensure this retreat is a transformative and unforgettable experience!   More details     Reignite conversation           This week, let's revisit     Nainital May 2022                         Experience a life full of purpose                     The purpose of my life is to support individuals in finding joy in their creative process.   Anupama Ramachandran Goa March, 2022         The entire purpose of my existence is to build a world of joyful learning experiences.   Nusrat Abbasi Kasauli April, 2022               For a daily dose of Creativegarh and our retreats, follow us here:                                 Watch All Episodes Here                   creativegarh.com             You are receiving this newsletter because either you have subscribed to it through our website, interacted with us by filling an invite form or because you have asked us to put you on the database. 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