I've worked on myself personally, psychologically and spiritually for most of my life. I've always been a goal setter and a person who looks at myself (habits, personality traits and challenges) with a determination to constantly evolve and hopefully improve.

Working as a counselor and life coach, I've participated in the change and growth process for many, many people.

Through my personal and professional experiences, I've noticed that there are two basic forms of change and evolution. The first is when we consistently make efforts towards an objective, and are rewarded with fairly visible and steady results. A good example of this is eating healthy and exercising regularly. If we started from a sedentary state where we didn't eat healthily, we will inevitable watch our bodies and physical wellbeing transform before our eyes. We are rewarded for our efforts in an ongoing and consistent manner.

The second form of change and growth is a little bit harder to deal with. We can work and work and work on something and not have much to show for it on the surface of our lives. We struggle. We challenge ourselves. We try. We do the work. We question ourselves. We wrestle with our demons. Drip, drip, drip - the efforts we make seem to make little to no impact on the outer circumstances we are trying to change. NOTHING seems to be happening. We might feel frustrated, powerless and stuck. No matter how hard we try, nothing seems to change.

Then... it happens.

All hell breaks loose and we experience dramatic shifts and change in our life! Seemingly without warning either due to our own actions or actions of another, or life itself, we find ourselves in an entirely new situation with the ground shifting and shaking beneath our feet. We stumble, we might even fall down. We are off center and our sense of control and balance are gone in an instant.

In a physical earthquake, the tectonic plates of the earth are pressing against each other, grinding in opposite directions at a pace that is basically imperceptible, building up friction and pent up energy until the tension is so strong that it can not be held back any longer. The plates shift suddenly, even violently, and the earth moves in a dramatic fashion. Stability is lost. Sometimes damage occurs. It's frightening and unsettling for all who experience it.

Many times life changes feel like an actual earthquake in the center of our personal universe. Even if the changes are positive ones, they can be unsettling and disorienting.

Part of the 'art of living' is to learn to embrace and surrender to the process of change and growth - in both its forms: the slow and steady change and transformation of the 'personal earthquake' variety.

Learning to dance through the disorienting effects of a personal earthquake can be both scary and exhilarating. We can choose to take on this process much the same way we would get onto a roller coaster and enjoy the thrill of being out of control and flying through what's coming toward us.

Who said that life was going to be safe, secure and completely stable? When we expect that from life, or demand that from life... we lose the juiciness and exhilaration of being alive. Life becomes dull and uninspiring.

Life is meant to be filled with twists and turns of all sorts, including personal earthquakes. In the aftermath of such an earthquake we often experience a quantum leap in our own personal growth and development. It can also mean a huge increase in fulfillment and happiness. The earthquake breaks us out of old, unsatisfying patterns and frees us up for new and compelling adventures. Without the earthquake we would have stayed stuck and mired in what felt safe and comfortable - even if it was not comfortable at all!

The next time the earth starts shaking under your life, grab hold of your courage, take a deep breath and let it move, rattle, shake and roll. Ride that roller coaster, and enjoy the thrill. Feel it all, and let it flow over you like a purifying waterfall. Walk out of the rubble and into a new dawn.

Just wait and see where you come out on the other side. I dare you to say it wasn't worth it - in some way - when all is said and done!