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I've been reflecting on the powerful current of transformation that is whipping through our lives right now. Can you feel it? Many of us are being asked to change in unprecedented ways. The message from the Universe lately seems to be that change is inevitable whether by choice or coercion: which would you like?

Far-flung and deep-reaching changes affecting every form of life on the planet challenge us to face the myriad ways in which we have meticulously disconnected ourselves from our environment, ourselves, and each other.

When the worldwide economic crisis first unfolded two years ago, the conventional reaction was to armor up with protection to survive. That armor may have taken on the form of denial, withdrawal or attack.  Some of us chose to pretend that the stark realities of life simply don’t exist and therefore don’t require a response from us – resorting to a pathological form of mind of matter. Some bunkered down and withdrew from the flow of life, nursing their deep-seated fears and anxieties from a place of isolation. And others found temporary solidarity in finding scapegoats to blame: the government, the president, big companies, and the like.  

While offering temporary respite, these three reactions all avoid the need to take personal responsibility.  It is a bit like eating cheesecake every day and then blaming someone else for the fact that you have gained ten pounds!

None of these approaches are effective, because they remove us from personal responsibility and dunk us into a place of powerlessness. In order to effectively respond to crisis, we first need to acknowledge our part in it.  Each one of us has participated to some extent in the actions, individually and collectively, that brought us to this place.  Only when we accept this reality as our baseline, can we start making appropriate choices to move ourselves and the collective into a more appropriate direction.

The responsibility-avoiding tactics of denial, withdrawal & attack do not make us immune to chaos and crisis. Instead, they incapacitate us from being proactive and keep us stuck in the role of victim.  When we block out reality around us, we also block out the potential for meaningful change.

Meaningful change requires that we honestly face what is, so that we can choose how to respond in proactive ways instead of reacting blindly. We need to stop asking why, and accept the current reality which is. The paradox is that we need to first have a conscious awareness of a situation in order to be able to address it. And that process requires that we let our guard down and take the blindfold off.  

When we navigate through life consciously, something remarkable happens.  We see the hardship and we feel the pain of circumstances, but we are able to reach through these to connect with the Divine Presence beyond. In the midst of crisis and change, we are able to sink beneath the appearance of crisis to reach a deep awareness of inner peace.  In the midst of chaos and upheaval, we can sense our connection to the Eternal Source.  And from that place, we can respond to circumstances from a place of faith, instead of reacting from a place of fear.

What does an appropriate response look like?  It needs to address the factual content of the challenge and it needs to honor the integrity of the context. An appropriate response may require you to get more factual information upfront.  It may require that you listen to your gut or your inner guidance. It may require that you face some very unpleasant facts: facing up to personal mistakes made, or acknowledging areas of neglect in your life. It may require that you assess your life and get rid of energy drains: areas of unnecessary conflict or relationships that you have outgrown to create space for other options. It may require that you ask for help from a trusted friend, therapist or other professional.  It may even require that you extend yourself outside your comfort zone: short-selling your home or looking for additional work to supplement your income.  An appropriate response may include some or all of these steps, yet it will be driven by faith and not by fear.

Times of crisis and change offer us opportunities for unprecedented growth. What initially feels like a cycle of dying to the old, eventually gives way to a rebirth.  The quality of rebirth depends on how you process the cycle of death and release.  In my own life, I have experienced this cycle of death and rebirth many time, including the past year.  This universal law of death and rebirth applies to all of us - so keep the faith during the cycles of death and decline in your life. Rebirth is sure to follow!

During times of chaos and upheaval, it is normal to feel a sense of disconnection and fear. We have a choice over how we will respond. We do not need another layer of reactionary denial, withdrawal or attack to protect us.

A healthier response is to consciously participate with this cycle of death and change by letting go of the old ways, things and situations that have outlived their purpose. 

We can open our hearts wider, cultivate our faith and reconnect to our Higher truth.  From that place, we can respond proactively to the powerful current of transformation sweeping our planet.  When the old has been cleared away, rebirth is sure to follow.

©Copyright Ada Porat. For more information, visit www.adaporat.com  This article may be freely distributed in whole or in part, provided there is no charge for it and this notice is attached.