The Greek philosopher Herakleitos once wrote that nothing is permanent except change.

The human psyche is always in a process of change and enfoldment, and we are in a constant state of re-invention.

Opportunities arise for change that leads to transformation but frequently we are not ready for those changes. But life is cyclical and if we ignore what must be done inevitably, it will show up again in a different form.

We all have the freedom to choose, to grow, make mistakes, re-choose and grow again. This is the pattern of life. To deny that is to deny your very own existence, to deny your right to the life you choose.

All experiences in life are shared by other human beings. It is not unique to just you. We all go through joy, pain, good fortune, loss, loneliness, togetherness, light and darkness, and we all have certain needs and drives in common.

But the timing and distinctive expression of this constantly changing growth pattern is unique to you, and to the individual heart, mind, body and spirit experiences that is your life.

We are humans in search of meaning. Finding and connecting with that meaning, with who you are and what we seek in life, is the journey we all must make. As we discover our strengths and our weaknesses, our joys and our passions, we create a greater range of choices in our life.

At midlife, we are in a time of harvest. The crops we have sown for most of our life are now bearing fruit. How we choose to collect the harvest is the journey we take at this time.

By ignoring our own needs and our own desires, we essentially ignore the abundance that awaits us. By holding onto old, outdated modes of thinking, of being, of believing, we essentially refuse the extraordinary wealth of who we are.

By being aware of the essential nature of change, of allowing this change to be the constant in our life without fighting it, we grow fully into the potential of who we were meant to be.

Many years ago, I was engaged in intense therapy to break down the barriers that I had placed around me to protect myself from the unwanted hurts and disappointments of my life. During one session I had a vision of a box. The walls of the box were charred black from a fire that had raged inside of it. The fire was my energy desperate to be revealed, to be let loose, to create and move out into the world outside.

A young girl stood inside this blackened box ready to be released from the prison I had erected around me. I was the fire and the life. My life wanted expression. High in an upper wall was a small window of light. It was the light that I reached for. The window I chose to release myself through.

Transformation of this nature usually comes when there is no going back. At this time in my life, there were many visions that came to me. Bridges burning as I walked across them, phoenix birds rising from the ashes. All of them profound ways to reach beyond the terrible waste land of my past and the feelings of negativity that constantly assailed me.

Change was inevitable and ineffable.

Burdened by old belief systems, by outdated opinions cast by others, by ways in which we protect and shield who we truly are, we place ourselves in a concrete box of our own making.

The only constant in life is change. There are also no guarantees that whatever change you encounter is going to be for the best. But in my opinion, any change is good. It means you are no longer static. It means you are alive to the possibilities, and through that awareness, that accessibility, powerful things happen.

I speak constantly about becoming the woman you were meant to be. There is a powerful person inside of you waiting for the opportunity to express herself fully. To live the kind of life you imagine and dream about. To become completely true to yourself.

We can all hide, deny or discourage active participation in our lives, but ultimately, we are the ones who pay the price.

Change is good. Getting past the fear of change is the key. Take the risks and respect your intention and show courage. The time is now.

Within the seed of every adversity lies the seed of an equal or greater benefit….Napoleon Hill.