A great wave of healing and awakening is sweeping the world. A new time of personal growth, conscious awareness, and awakened co-creation among humanity is flowering. People are stepping into an exciting ability to bring greater peace, love, and joy into their lives.
Perhaps you have noticed this breath of awakening within yourself. However, instead of feeling better, you may be experiencing some unusual ― and often perplexing ― symptoms.
Bringing about change in our lives ― even attempting to increase our level of joy ― involves stepping outside our familiar roles and actions. And exiting beyond the comfort zone into the unknown can easily trigger intense emotional responses, mental confusion and uncertainty, and physical aches and pains.
Point of Departure
If you’ve been working steadily to overcome an addiction, move beyond an old limitation, bring more joy into your life, or manifest a new beginning, then eventually you bring yourself to a point of departure. It’s in this “space” between the old and the new that difficult feelings often arise. These feelings develop because ties to the old have not yet been cut, and the final step into the new has not yet been taken.
This point of departure is a necessary phase of the journey. Within this space, former limitations and doubts that you have worked so hard to dislodge must now continue their ascent outward. Just as bubbles rise up and out of a champagne glass, outdated beliefs and associated heavier energies begin their exodus. In addition, unfamiliar new energy, intuition, and awareness are poised to come in and take their place.
When going through a process of personal growth, everything ― including your mind, body, and spirit ― must reorganize. This process of rewire and restructure occurs as a natural byproduct of growth, but often feels unfamiliar and disturbing.
Goodbye and Hello
Rest assured that any discomfort you may be feeling is normal. The point of departure is one of goodbye and hello. Often parting and saying goodbye, even though desired, can often bring sweet sorrow. So although the experience may not make you feel particularly good, feeling worse before feeling better is often a sign of progress.
The biggest problem with personal growth symptoms is that people stop moving forward, or discontinue the very path that was leading them to a more fulfilling life. Just like an elastic band stretched tight, the pull back into the old intensifies and the fear of releasing into the unknown grows in proportion.
Although your difficult feelings may be unexpected, rest assured that you are not doing anything wrong, and you’re not going to feel badly forever. The important thing to note is that worsening symptoms do not indicate failure, but, in fact, are usually a sign of just the opposite.
Point of Departure Symptoms
Not everyone experiences exactly the same physical, emotional, and mental symptoms when moving through the steps of personal growth and higher consciousness. Resistance to letting go or fear of change may be factors that contribute to the length, severity, or intensity of individual point of departure symptoms. Remember that you worked hard to bring yourself to this point, and when you are ready, you will once again move forward.
Listed below are a few of the experiences and feelings you may encounter as you move forward into your new world of conscious living:
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A yearning to feel a deeper connection to your own inner spirit
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Needing to know if there is more to life than what you already have
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A compelling need to let go of old fears, addictions, or outdated habits
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A readiness to finally release challenges with money, health, or love ― and new awareness of personal responsibility
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A longing to release patterns of isolation, abandonment, anxiety, and illness
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A burning desire to seek a more fulfilling and meaningful life – although you may not yet be able to define exactly what that new life would look like
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An attempt to follow and trust a deeper, heartfelt sense of your true self, but not knowing how to express your authentic self
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A heightened sense of intuition, but not trusting what you know to be true
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Instead of elation, experiencing unanticipated boredom, emptiness, futility, and even depression
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Feeling lost, no longer sure of what your role or identity is
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Disinterest with traditions, obligations, and customs that once were a source of joy
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A sense of being alone, different, or unable to connect with other people
Although the strange feelings associated with personal growth and increased conscious awareness are uncomfortable, they are a positive sign. While you may believe you are stuck or that you have failed, you are actually in the process of shedding old limitations and preparing for a new way of experiencing yourself in life.
Breathe, Relax, and Trust Yourself
If you recognize yourself in any (or many) of the above symptoms, take comfort that you are already on your perfectly unfolding evolutionary process into new beginnings and new connections.
To help yourself to continue moving forward, breathe often. Slow, deep, and conscious breathing is “spiritual lubricant” that keeps thing gliding and keeps things moving. Breathing moves old beliefs, emotions, and energy. Breathing gets you back in your body. Breathing gets you centered and helps you get out of your own way. Breathing also helps you to release stress and relax.
In addition to breathing, take care of yourself in gentle ways that help ease anxiety and soothe your body, mind, and spirit. Now more than ever, it’s important to support your journey of wellbeing with actions that nourish. Listen to your growing intuition and follow through on those gentle nudges to drink more water, sit in the sunshine, take a gentle walk, soak in a hot mineral bath, or eat some vibrant life-filled foods.
Even during the rough times, remember the purpose of your journey was to say “yes” to life and “yes” to allowing yourself to have an enjoyable life experience. Believe in your own process, and take comfort in the knowledge that your uncomfortable feelings are positive signs of movement. You deserve the very best, ever and always.
About the Author: Want to learn more about how to live consciously, love deeply, and laugh often? Come along with Dr. Annette Colby and learn the secrets to creating the life you’ve always wanted to live! Subscribe to her blog Divine Self! today.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Annette,
Your article reminds me of the song “The Rose”. Now that Winter is upon us, I find it is a time for reflection. It is the same as a cloudy day…..we know the sun is still shining, but we just can’t see it! If we stop and remember this, we will know that life will go on…..it is all part of the journey.
I have experienced firsthand most of the things you have listed above and they weren’t all pleasant feelings. However, I have learned from my experiences that things do change. I have always had a sense of being different and there are very few people in my life, both past and present, to whom I feel connected with. I’ve come to believe that this is a personal choice. A prime example is that I’m not a materialistic person…..I don’t care whether my towels match in the bathroom or whether my furniture is all the same colour wood! I have moved house several times in my life and love giving things away. I find that as I age, my interests change. I now have a new awareness of personal responsibility towards myself. However, I can still be impulsive…..act on something and let the chips fall where they may. If I regret it, then it is true…….sometimes personal growth may make a person feel bad. But, at least, we learn by our mistakes.
Merry Christmas,
Kathleen
Hi Kathleen,
Thank you for sharing your experience and wisdom!
It’s so awesome when I hear someone saying that they accept personal responsibility. I’m inspired, because when a person accept responsibility, an entire new world opens up. It’s a world with substance and passion, direction and meaning. Personal responsibility allows you to know who you are, what you like, and to affirm yourself positively. In short – you TRUST yourself!
I get a sense that when you talk about “being impulsive” “acting on something” and “letting the chips fall where they may” that those are all consciously aware decisions. You are the sole determinant of the choices you make. No matter how things turn out, you know you had a choice. All choices lead to experiences. There really is no right, no wrong, and no mistakes to be made. There is just experience. To be the conscious choser of our own experience is to live in a heightened state of enlightenment.
Thank you again for sharing your beautiful Self with us all!
With joy,
Annette
Oh, I so love that song, “The Rose.” I especially love the end, which of course is what this is about — the blooming after darkness.
Hi Liz!
Thanks for writing. “The Rose” is an awesome song. Performed by Bette Midler, it’s one of those songs that reaches directly into the heart and elicits hope.
To listen to a free presentation of the song, visit http://www.last.fm/music/Bette+Midler/_/The+Rose
Below are the lyrics to “The Rose” by Bette Midler
Some say love, it is a river
that drowns the tender reed.
Some say love, it is a razor
that leaves your soul to bleed.
Some say love, it is a hunger,
an endless aching need.
I say love, it is a flower,
and you it’s only seed.
It’s the heart afraid of breaking
that never learns to dance.
It’s the dream afraid of waking
that never takes the chance.
It’s the one who won’t be taken,
who cannot seem to give,
and the soul afraid of dyin’
that never learns to live.
When the night has been too lonely
and the road has been to long,
and you think that love is only
for the lucky and the strong,
just remember in the winter
far beneath the winter snows
lies the seed that with the sun’s love
in the spring becomes the rose.
Dear Annette,
Thank you very much for your article, it really explains what I feel right now and I’m so relieved.
I thought I’m going to be nut’s ‘coz of my nerve tension lately.
I’m looking forward your next awakening article.
Thank you for sharing all ^ ^
Dear Lisa,
Thanks for writing and sharing your descriptions of awakening. I know your words will comfort and support others who read of your journey.
Have you read Your Highest Potential: The New Psychology of Understanding and Working with Self? This is a shameless plug, but I know you’ll love and appreciate the incredible inspiration and love contained within the book about conscious awakening, what happens with the body and spirit, and how to move through your journey with courage and faith in yourself. The book is available at http://www.YourHighestPotential.com or Amazon.com.
Wishing you all the best of joy and wonder as you take your next steps into an awakened life!
With love,
Annette