When Dorothy found herself abruptly dumped in Oz, her first thought was “How do I get back home?” She pleaded with everyone around her, believing they possessed some special power to make this happen. But in the end, Dorothy understood she — and she alone — had the ability to change her situation.

I was reminded of this yesterday listening to a friend talk about change. Powerful change. The kind that picks up your life and redirects it like a tornado picking up a car and setting it down on an entirely different freeway miles away.

And while it may be triggered by an external event, transformational change always starts from within, whispered into consciousness by that quiet voice that tells you it’s time to grow, go to the next level, live your purpose.

The right path doesn’t necessarily equal the easy route. Sometimes the right thing to do is the most terrifying option. It’s like you’re at the door to the next phase of your life, and your heart is telling you “Walk through,” but your head is conjuring up all manner of monsters and misery on the other side.

We all face these doors. They might be the “leaving an unfulfilling job” door, or “letting go of a bad habit” door or “leaving an abusive relationship” door.

Some people listen to their heart, get the message the first time, turn the door knob and move through.

Some of us walk up to the door, knowing it’s the right thing to do, but then listen to the misguidance from our small self who wants nothing to do with change. So, we move on and ignore the pull.

But if the change is necessary to our soul’s growth, and we continue to avoid the door, the Universe will drop-kick us there until we get the message.

The obvious question is why do we resist? One reason is because given the choice between certainty (or the familiar) and uncertainty (change), most of us will choose certainty – even if that means continuing to muck around in a painful situation and rationalize why it’s safer to stay there.

But a more empowering question is how do we get ourselves to open the door and walk through? I think the answer there is faith and trust – that no matter what happens, we’ll get through it. And at least from my experience, life has always been extraordinarily better on the other side. Always.

I wrote the following poem when I was confronted one of life’s doors of change recently. (And yes, I stepped through – this blog was the result.)

Entering the Arena

I am at the arena door.
I have come a long way to get here
I’ve studied every route, every entrance and exit
What to wear and how to present myself.

I hear the howling and the roar from inside
Then the silence and I am afraid.

Perhaps I should come back another day.
Another year.
Another decade.

Yet something pulls me through
And inside, there are no lions waiting for me
Just kittens playing
And the whole world applauding.