Change is difficult for most everyone. Anyone who has ever tried to quit smoking, go on a diet or develop an exercise program knows just how tough it is to make even the smallest change their life. However, change is a fact of life. Any form of physical life that is not changing is already dead. We are constantly changing shedding our old skin and growing anew. It can be truthfully stated that in order to live we must change.

The same is true for us psychologically. In order to live we must be in the present moment and the present moment is constantly changing. New events and situations arise and fall each moment like the rising and the falling of the tide. For us to be living our life to its fullest we must be able to adapt to these constant changes. We must be flexible. We must be evolving and in a very real way continuously changing.

For many people the idea of change is a frightening thing. They want to find what they consider to be safe and secure little niches or places in life that they can comfortably squeeze themselves into. For them to hear that they should come out of their caves and join the living is a scary thought. They have talked themselves into thinking that they actually like the prisons that they have created for themselves.

In truth what has happened to these people is that they have developed a fear of “risk taking.” I’m not talking about jumping-out-of-airplanes kinds of risks. No, what I’m talking about is “people risks.” They have become afraid of people risks. Of coming out of their cave-prisons and placing themselves in the constant change-flow of life that comes in relationships.

They like keeping track of all things, at all times and in the real world it is impossible for anyone to do that because life is always evolving. They are also fearful of real living because it would mean having to give up their false perception of being in control. They have yet to come to understand that one cannot control life no matter how hard one tries. In their cozy caves they imagine themselves to be in control of things. What they fail to realize is that their fear of being out of control is actually controlling them and locking them inside of their prison-cells.

We need to, at some point , come to terms with our tendencies to put ourselves into this “false sense of security” type of mentality. It is not a secure life hiding out from the rest of the world for two important reasons. One: Even that world can come crashing down around you and two, it is not really much of a life living in a “prison of fear.”

When we begin to see our tendencies toward non-risk-taking then we can begin to do something about it.

I have met many people who claim to be risk takers. They mountain climb, sky dive etc..., but they are in fact not risk takers at all. Please understand that these “thrill seeking events”are not the kinds of risks that I am talking about. What I am referring to is the willingness to engage in the flow of life. To interact with people in good situations and in bad. To jump into the rushing river of life and let is carry you wherever it may.

To fully engage in the present moment. This is an awesome thing. To be willing to risk putting aside all of your thoughts about what you think life ought to be and to step into what life really is - here and now. To risk letting go of those thoughts and ideas that you think you need to keep you safe in this world and to walk free down the path of peace.

It is a lie to think that your thoughts are protecting you. Quite the contrary. It is usually your thoughts that are upsetting you.

Dare to let go of them. Like the baby eagle crawling out of her mothers nest for the first time. As she stands with wobbling legs on the edge of a high cliff her first thought is to go back to the safety of her mothers nest. But deep inside she knows that the only way that she will ever fly is if she takes the risk and jumps off the edge of the cliff. So she spreads her wings and with her eyes wide open takes a giant leap of faith. In an instant she discovers what she is meant to do. She is meant to fly - to soar.

It is the same for me and you. We were born and are destined to take the great leap of faith and to spread our wings and soar. Take the risk. Dare to change. When you do you will discover all that you have ever truly longed for.