The Quiet Link Between Surrender and Gratitude
Vulnerability alert.
There are moments when life doesn’t go the way we planned. Someone canceled plans on us, we missed the interview because we were stuck in traffic, or we didn’t get the house we so desperately were in love with. You name it.
The questions don’t make sense. The path we thought we were on suddenly feels unfamiliar. And in that disorientation, a quiet voice asks:
Is this what I’m meant to do? Why? What now?
I’ve been there.
I didn’t pass my independent licensing exam, what I needed to open my own practice…not once, but twice. Each time, I felt the sting of disappointment, the ache of uncertainty, AND I QUESTIONED EVERYTHING.
But here’s what surprised me:
There’s a particular grace that lives in the space between effort and outcome. When we’ve tried, really tried, and things still don’t unfold the way we hoped, surrender becomes a lifeline.
Not the kind of surrender that means giving up.
The kind that means letting go.
Releasing control. Softening into the unknown. It’s a fundamental act of trust, especially when we feel like we have nothing left to lose.
And here’s the beautiful part:
When I finally surrendered, when I stopped gripping the outcome and started listening to the present moment, guess what…I passed. Not just the exam, but something deeper. I passed through the threshold of resistance into a space where gratitude could finally breathe.
Because surrender and gratitude aren’t opposites. They’re companions.
Gratitude doesn’t always come from getting what we want.
Sometimes it comes from sitting with what is. From honoring the experience, even if it didn’t go the way we planned. From recognizing that there’s wisdom in the unraveling, grace in the pause, and healing in the release.
When we finally surrender, we make space for gratitude to rise. Not as a forced silver lining, but as a quiet truth.
A truth that says: Even this holds meaning. Even this can be sacred.
So, if you’re in the messy middle, between effort and outcome, hope and uncertainty, this message is for you:
I invite you to sit with the surrender.
Let it soften you. Let it show you what’s still possible. Gratitude is waiting there, just beneath the surface.
Meet Mallory
Written by Mallory Tedrick, LISW, psychotherapist and founder of her private practice in Cleveland, Ohio. Mallory helps individuals navigate life transitions, cultivate resilience, and rediscover clarity through therapy.
If Mallory’s words resonate with you, she invites you to take the next step toward your own healing journey. Schedule a free consultation today and explore how therapy can support you in moments of uncertainty and growth.