Have you ever heard the phrase, when the student is ready, the teacher will appear? I had but it had been a long time ago until I read it in the first Conversations With God book recently. I believe it's true but with the rate of change that has been exponentially growing over the last few decades and the global consciousness & paradigm shift and evolution revolution that is due in 2012, I wonder if change is happening to people who aren't sure if they're ready. Of course, are we ever really ready for major change?
I find a passage I recently read in a Science of Mind periodical, Creative Thought, pertinent to this topic and thought provoking and inspiring. It's titled stepping into newness. It relates the life of a toddler, just learning to walk and learning something new every minute to an adult faced with and going through change. It's funny because a toddler doesn't seem to mind the discomfort that comes from having to learn so many new things at once. They don't get frustrated and give up when they misjudge a step and fall and they don't hesitate because they're worried about failing or worried what people will think of them if they fall or worry that people will belittle them because they can't run, jump or talk. People have much more patience for children learning new things than they do for themselves learning new things - especially if it's due to change that you have no control over and are forced to learn something you haven't done before. Forced change can be things like losing a job, foreclosing on or losing your house, or divorce. These types of major life change are especially difficult to step back and try to take a different perspective and realize it might be that your path needed to change and the universe made it happen for you.
When we encounter change, whether it's entering into a new paradigm, adopting a new protocol, embodying a new idea, embarking on a new course, or even unpleasant forced changes like those I listed above - there is a period of discomfort and fear that stops many people from embracing that change and realize it's going to be beneficial in the long run. Change is an opportunity to grow and become more effective. Many people's fear of making a mistake hinders or even prevents them from allowing this to happen. We simply can't stand still - change is inevitable.
The only difference between a toddler and us is that we have an expectation around who we are or who we believe others should perceive us to be. One thing I've learned lately is that the ego is very powerful. The ego's fear of failure, making a mistake or embarrassment, can prevent us from growing. I think if we recognize that it is just that, the ego, and we can separate ourselves from our egos in order to allow positive change to happen, we can have an easier time of it. The other thing that happens when we separate ourselves from our ego is our spirit's and God's voice becomes more clear. In my experience, as long as I listen to and trust my spirit's and God's voice and wisdom, everything will end up for the best.
It's easier said than done to let go of your ego. I, personally, am prone to over-analyzing things. When my analysis of what my spirit/God is telling me (through my gut instinct and what my heart tells me - let me know if you want me to write a separate blog about recognizing the "voice" of your spirit and God) doesn't seem to make sense or seem to be feasible based on my rationale and what I think is possible, I used to dismiss or ignore that voice. I blocked positive change from occurring and blocked myself from moving to the next step on my ideal path or from jumping to a higher level. My mental analysis of it probably told me that it wasn't possible or would be too difficult to accomplish. The discomfort of trying it would be undesirable.
To quote Creative Thought (May 2009):
Every positive change - every jump to a higher level of energy and awareness - involves a rite of passage. Each time, to ascend to a higher rung on the ladder of personal evolution, we must go through a period of discomfort, of initiation. I have never found an exception.
I think this quote also applies to the greater, global evolution shift that is occurring and is supposed to "happen" in 2012.
To tie this idea back to today's topic, you should go for what you feel is right for you and what you desire, but know that it won't be easy. My parents used to say (when I was complaining about how difficult college was at times) nothing good comes easy. But it helps to remember one of my favorite quotes - If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it. If you're facing change, you must be ready for it or it wouldn't have come to you. Trust this and trust that God, the teacher, will lead the way.
