Stuck Between Transformation and Change
Posted on July 29, 2008
Filed Under Embrace Your Highest Path and Purpose, Meditation and Awakening Consciousness, Spiritual Development |
If we choose to walk a path of spiritual growth, we can be certain of one thing. We cannot grow and evolve spiritually while keeping our life circumstances exactly the same. Invariably, we will try to resist change. Eventually, though, we will get very stuck and highly uncomfortable on our journey if we cling to careers, relationships, and lifestyles that are out of alignment with the spiritual Beings we have become.
Spiritual growth and expanded consciousness change the rules of our lives. Values we were once attached to and truths we “knew” suddenly fall away and become unimportant. What once seemed impossible is suddenly within reach. The once unthinkable now becomes attractive. Careers, relationships, and all other life circumstances must be evaluated from an entirely new perspective. We move so far out of our comfort zone that we regard ourselves with astonishment, thinking “Is this still me?”
The truth is that we are not losing ourselves. We are becoming more and more of who we truly are – our Higher Self. Through spiritual development, our Higher Self trumps the priorities of the ego and becomes the driving force in our lives. Our Soul’s consciousness usually looks very different from our egoic consciousness. This is why, from time to time, the circumstances of our lives must adapt to reflect our new state of Being.
True discomfort arises when we resist this process. Sure, we yearn for spiritual transformation. But life changes? Who wants to deal with a messy break-up, with moving across the country, with financial upheaval, or with a career change? Sometimes it’s easier to stick our heads in the sand and pretend that we can manage within our current circumstances. We might even take a little break from our spiritual work, suddenly finding ourselves busy with drama or distraction.
We can spend years of our lives - perhaps even the rest of our lives - stuck between transformation and change. We can put limits on our growth, our fulfillment, and our ability to manifest what we want. We can hold on to life just the way it is. We can dabble at the same level of spiritual practice and stay within our comfort zone. Lots of people will support us in staying exactly where we are.
Or we can be courageous, and explore what our Soul’s consciousness might wish to create of our lives. We can step beyond what is safe and comfortable. We can throw away the rules we’ve lived by, and try on new ones to see if they fit. We can expand and then expand some more. We might discover that we are limitless as Creators, and that miracles occur daily. We might learn to take delight in completely unfamiliar territory.
We can do all of this, and more. But first, we must agree that transformation will inevitably create change.
Is there anything you’re holding on to that is limiting your spiritual transformation? Leave your comments and share!
Blessings,
Andrea
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20 Responses to “Stuck Between Transformation and Change”
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Hi there Andrea - I really like this article!
I think your statement “We are becoming more and more of who we truly are” would be very important for some people to understand, because they think that if they change “it won’t be me, anymore”.
Cheers - Robin
I find what limits me is the “shoulds” of how to go about things. I have to journal through the process and examine a situation from all sides to break out of the “shoulds.”
Robin - You’re so right … and that is, of course, the ego talking. We do have this odd fear of what we’ll become if we allow for change - it’s because the ego always has a vested interest in staying in charge.
Kirsten - Isn’t “should” a nasty little word? And it’s so pervasive! To me, it always implies an external sense of authority that makes me want to ask “Should - according to whom?” Good for you for breaking out of shoulding yourself!
Blessings,
Andrea
I always wondered how people with family deal with this issue. I mean, dealing with my own changes is a lot, now what about dealing with people who don’t “get” it?
And it accelerates. The me I reinvented a few months ago is already outdated.
I love the thrill, though.
Hi Andrea, welcome back! I hope you had a good time at the conference.
I’ve chosen to be courageous … and the Universe says OK and sends me a series of changes that almost freaked me out, LOL! It’s funny because while I was “freaking out”, I found the ride to be kinda fun at the same time too. Like riding a roller coaster.
Yes, I have been resisting change, so this article is a great reminder for me to embrace them, thank you! I guess there will come a time when I will start to feel dizzy and nauseous in that roller coaster, and I’ll just have to step out and move on to the next ride in the park.
Hi Akemi - It does accelerate! And I think, eventually, as painful as it is, the people who don’t “get it” will fall away. And hopefully, we surround ourselves with people who are on the same wild ride.
Thank you, Irene! I had an awesome time, but I did miss you all!
You know, it’s the resistance that makes us dizzy and nauseous, really. Once we just roll with it, we may still freak out, but there is also a deep inner knowing and peace from being on exactly the right path at the right time.
Blessings,
Andrea
I believe the reason most people don’t go down a more spiritual path is fear. They are afraid they will lose what they are most comfortable with in life. It may mean losing a relationship, changing their job, and big changes can be scary. Some souls believe if they get connected to the light, life is going to be really boring and I’ll have to sit around and meditate all day. Taking baby steps to get to where we want to go on our path is the key. Staying balanced and moving at the speed that feels comfortable for us to make that transformation to become the evolved soul we are to be.
Thanks Andrea
Jodi
I love the rollercoaster of change; but then again, I’ve lived with it from an early age onwards (perforce at times). It has occasionally been difficult for family members to understand my way of being, but eventually they came to accept if not understand. After all, we all love each other and sometimes have to accept different ways of looking at the world. I admit, I have been lucky to have a supportive family.
Love, light and lot’s of laughter,
Louise
Well done, Andrea! You did a very nice job making the distinction. One of my favorite “gurus” likes to say that the only choice we have in life is how deep are the claw marks we leave as we are being dragged to awakening. I love it. You hit on that with “True discomfort arises when we resist this process.”
One absolute fact about life: it WILL change. No matter how much we insist that it not, it will. Our relationships will end, either via break-ups, death, you name it. Our finances will change, sometimes up, sometimes down. But change will occur. You can guarantee it.
[...] of massive breaks of inertia deep within. Andrea Hess of Empowered Soul wrote a post recently on transformation and change when we embark on the path of spirituality, and I couldn’t agree more with it. I [...]
[...] of massive breaks of inertia deep within. Andrea Hess of Empowered Soul wrote a post recently on transformation and change when we embark on the path of spirituality, and I couldn’t agree more with it. I [...]
[...] of massive breaks of inertia deep within. Andrea Hess of Empowered Soul wrote a post recently on transformation and change when we embark on the path of spirituality, and I couldn’t agree more with it. I [...]
Andrea,
Welcome back from your break — I missed you!
This article is a great exploration of that tendency most of us have of wanting to hit the Fast Forward button when things aren’t going so well, but wanting to Pause and Freeze the picture when things are wonderful.
Neither one works, of course. I echo Tom’s comment about Change’s inevitability, its being the one thing you can bet on. Being okay with that realistic, dynamic expectation and learning to work with the movement of change is the only way to operate with a sense of power and peace.
The waves are coming — let’s all go surfing!
Third Blog Carnival on Engaged Spirituality: Engaging Fear…
Welcome to the August 3, 2008 edition of engaged spirituality. Hosting these carnivals is an interesting…
Hi Andrea, I too celebrate your return. I’m laughing out loud right now because of this. You write and excellent post and ask a really good question at the end.
“Is there anything you’re holding on to that is limiting your spiritual transformation? ”
Then most everyone comments on the post instead of answering the question. Does that really mean that they are holding onto something they don’t want to talk about?
I guess I have to answer it now. I am possibly holding onto the way in which a relationship is ending. I most likely need to speed things up by seeing greater possibilities.
Jodi - I think you’re right, there’s a fear of loss of self - with a very small “s” since it’s the ego that we’re moving past. Of course, we gain Self - but that can look very, very different! I agree that we have to move forward at a pace we are comfortable with - baby steps are still forward movement, right?
Louise - Kudos to you for joyfully engaging with the roller coaster!!! Resistance is what takes all the fun out of the ride, right?
Tom - What a fantastic quote! I’m not going to forget that one! Yes, change is the only constant in life, no doubt about it.
Slade - Thank you!!! Change-surfing is a beautiful image … riding the waves that come and go, always allowing ourselves to be carried and to move with the flow.
Tom - I love that you’re willing to answer the question! Transformation … here it comes! When we shift paradigms around what is possible, impossible, probable, etc., whole new worlds can open up to us.
Blessings,
Andrea
To follow in Tom’s footsteps and answer your question, yes, I recently found myself stalled because of fear again. When I think I have won the battle against fear and am moving forward at a good pace, suddenly I find another pocket of fear that I haven’t dealt with yet. Instead of resisting the fear this time, I sat with it for awhile before acknowledging it and then releasing it. At least this time, I didn’t resist. That is something new for me. I recognised it almost immediately. That is new too. I call that progress. Glad to have you back. You were missed.
[...] Stuck Between Transformation and Change [...]
Wow.. you hit the nail on the head here… I’m feeling a need for huge change. I am miserable in my work, seeking every alternative and just afraid. Afraid I’ll make the wrong choices afraid the net wont be there in time to catch me jumping from the cliff. I want guarantees… which aren’t part of our story here. I’ve created a nice little life, quiet, comfortable, home of my dreams kinda stuff. I was offered another position and knew it was wrong… I need a career change, a life change. Just when my children are looking at college and bills need to be lowered. I guess I’m also afraid I’ll miss it… and take the long route, which is never as much fun. Kind of like missing the stop on the train… that really cool boutique will never move it just might take you walking back a mile to get to it. But you are right we can choose to stay in misery. I see people do it all the time. I for one have never been able to stay there long… and until I get that signal, I’m meditating, clearing and reading (sharpening my tools) because my intentions have been set rather open ended. I’ve spoken to my guides in depth regarding responsibilities and money and hope they hear me. Hope there aren’t negative energies pushing me along a dead end path… (would not be good).
Thank you Andrea I’ve really come to rely on your insight over the past few days(answers to a request for guidance and a teacher) and Blessings
Michelle
Michelle
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