While I was driving to the grocery store one evening, the song “Changes” by the band Tesla came on Hair Nation (SiriusXM), which made me think about the changes that we are all going through as a collective and how some people tend to roll with the punches while others are stubborn as mules and resist change at every turn.

Here’s the thing, the universe is constantly giving us signals about whether we’re on the right path or not. But as humans, we tend to have what I call “ostrich syndrome” where we bury our heads in the sand with our tushes up in the air, and we check out and ignore the signs. When the universe wants us to change, and all change is ultimately for our highest good, it will tap us on the shoulder to get our attention. If we ignore the shoulder tap, the universe will give us a gentle shove, and if we ignore the shove, the universe will take its steel toed boot and kick us in the ass to the point where we fall down face-first on the concrete, break our nose, chip our teeth, and scrape up our face.

It’s those situations that are the most devastating that are meant to cause the greatest change in us. When life is sailing along, we aren’t motivated to change because we don’t have to. We are not meant to fear change because regardless of how scary it is, the outcome leads us somewhere better than where we currently are. It is always darkest before the dawn, but if we embrace change with ease and grace instead of white knuckling through it, or resisting it, we will prevail.

Meditating and journaling are two of the most effective ways to make sense of change, receive answers from our intuition and highest selves, and benefit from the change. Additionally, meditation and journaling are scientifically proven to reduce pain and other physical symptoms, depression and anxiety, and a host of other issues.

The next time you’re faced with a challenging change, remind yourself that even though it may be difficult at the time, you will get through it and things will eventually improve.