A book to return to
The Surrender Experiment
The main takeaway
Notice your initial resistance, examine the situation and decide what useful action it calls for.
The short summary
In this 2015 memoir, Singer describes a decision to meet life’s unfolding demands while loosening the influence of fear and desire. His story moves from meditation and solitude to a spiritual community, software development and corporate leadership. He interprets these experiences through surrender, service and trust in the direction life takes.
One idea at a time
Key takeaways.
Idea 1
Notice the first objection
Singer pays attention to the mind’s immediate likes, dislikes and fears when an unfamiliar situation appears.
Idea 2
Meet the task in front of you
His account pairs surrender with sustained effort, including the practical demands of writing software and supporting the people using it.
Idea 3
Leave room for an unexpected path
The memoir invites readers to consider whether a fixed personal plan is preventing them from exploring a worthwhile possibility.
An everyday example
An unfamiliar invitation
A designer is invited to teach a small workshop. She notices anxiety, checks the commitment and prepares a session. The invitation becomes an opportunity to discover whether she enjoys teaching.
Sources and credits
Ideas credited to Michael A. Singer. This page uses original wording and an original everyday example.
This is a spiritual memoir. Its outcomes reflect one person’s account and interpretation; individual choices still involve judgement, responsibilities and consequences.
Michael A. Singer: The Surrender Experiment Penguin Random House: The Surrender Experiment Michael A. Singer: The Surrender Experiment, chapter 46 excerpt