When you hear the word growth, what do you feel? Does a rush of anticipation flow through you as if getting ready for something new or exciting, or does something inside you feel resistant to even hearing it, as if it suggests an upcoming event or occurrence that could potentially be very painful. Observe your feelings carefully, whatever they may be, without judgment. For they are your truest indicators and your compass, if you will, of what may be blocking your ‘perceived’ advancement. I say ‘perceived’ for we are ever changing and continuously growing, despite our best efforts at times to do otherwise.

Sometimes we may be resisting based on fears we are holding on to and other times, we may feel like we are ready to grow but for some reason, we are being ‘held in place’ or ‘trapped in the void,’ and thus cannot make any forward progress. In the first scenario, our resistance to change is often the result of our attempts to hold on to old energetic patterns or beliefs that are no longer healthy or beneficial to us. And often when we continually resist the growth offered to us, lo and behold we discover and uncover disharmonies and dissonances within our physical, mental, and emotional bodies. Why? Because our expansive spirits are always endeavoring to take flight towards the heavens.

The much loved and often quoted line by Anais Nin is a particularly poignant and powerful confirmation of this: “And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” It tends to strike a special chord in all who hear it for human beings, like flowers, are created and nurtured to grow, evolve, expand, and become more than the limitations or restrictions that we, ourselves, or others, try and impose upon us.

Many when they hear this quote remember a time in their lives when they too, were resisting the growth beckoning to them. They were choosing security, safety, or the neat and tidy ‘one size fits all’ existence so that they could remain wrapped within the safety and security of their cocoons. They were unwilling to break free of their familiar comfort zones and take the step that inevitably precedes real growth - the leap of faith into the uncharted waters of life, the realm of the unknown. Their fear was keeping them locked in place until something quite dramatic, what many refer to as the ‘cosmic brick wall,’ finally forced them to irrevocably break free of their self-imposed chains of bondage. In doing so, they took their first step toward regaining and reclaiming both their power and the remembrance of themselves as forever changing, infinite beings.

And for those who still feel they are ‘being held’ or ‘prevented’ from moving forward, the following analogy may be helpful. Think of a plane on a huge aircraft carrier waiting to take off. The plane must be tethered tightly and held in place once the engine is turned on in order to ensure that it doesn’t slip or slide off, causing a major disaster. The engine often runs for quite awhile before the plane actually moves or goes anywhere for it must continue to ‘rev’ until it gains the power and energy needed for takeoff. Thus, choosing the right moment for takeoff becomes the critical factor. For should the plane attempt to do so before attaining the proper momentum, instead of soaring into the skies, it would go overboard and nose dive into the ocean. And so it is with human beings – we must sometimes wait for that critical or divine moment before our new spurts of growth can occur and take flight. If we attempted to do so before we were really and truly ready, we, too, might crash and land in deep waters.

So if you feel you are still encased in the bud, whether through your own choice of still holding unto some nameless fear or by a great cosmic design, trust that you will either find your courage or be released when the timing is right. Ask for assistance or guidance for this part of your journey and then know that it will be there for you. When you are ready and give yourself permission to blossom and grow, you will most assuredly free a part of yourself that will, indeed, soar to the heavens, content nevermore to merely walk the path of the safe and secure. And having done so, you will touch the energy and magnificence of your true self and the divinity that resides within each and every one of us. With the coming of spring, the potential for new life, new beginnings, and naturally, new growth is available to us all. Remember to gift yourself with the knowingness that each day is another step of discovery on this enriching and exciting journey called life. Be grateful for the opportunities and growth it affords and enjoy the adventure that waits!

Karn N. Goff is a Speaker, Trainer, Reiki Master-Teacher and Holistic Energy Facilitator for healing body, mind and spirit. She specializes in Past Life Healing & Release Sessions and Sacred Attunements.  She can be contacted at 813-389-1197 or