Don't wait to be thrown in at the deep end- just JUMP!

There have been so many times in my life where I have felt literally thrown in at the deep end. People, circumstances and unwelcome opportunities have redirected my life and the inevitable loss of control can be overwhelming. It is at these junctures that we learn so much about ourselves and our willingness to face the world in unexpected ways. How versatile are you or do you feel? How flexible are your plans and aspirations? How strong are your underlying convictions that you have the ability to cope whatever?
It is our 'locus of control' which is most challenged at this time. We all have a sense of either being in control of our lives or of being at the mercy of life's vagaries. Those of us who have worked hard to develop a sense of Self will find it easier to manouever through the changes. Those of us who are less secure in our sense of Self may find that we become victims of circumstance and feel a complete loss of control and ability to influence outcomes.
I cannot reassure anyone that it is an easy route to Self awareness as our inner demons need to be faced and all sorts of prejudices, judgements and qualities we never knew we had, need to be challenged and faced up to. Often the 'best' or 'nicest' characteristics alongside our real strengths, have metaphorically been consigned to a locked chest (sadly a closed heart) in a dark understairs cupboard, never to be allowed to be revealed to the light of day. This is generally due to situations we have faced in the past, usually when young, in which we have not been appreciated or have been bullied into submission in some way.
The voice that tells us we are no good or not worthy is something we have imported from other's beliefs in the past and very rarely tells us the truth about ourselves or about the world around us. Our own quiet small voice or intuition is quite different. This is the one that prompts us to 'know' when things are right, that we actually have more value and worth, and that we are able to find ways and means to cope. We all know which has the loudest voice and the more persistent message. However, when we start to value the intution, something slowly and surely changes inside.
The best way to do this is to consistently seek out people, places and circumstances that make you feel good. This will reinforce the positives in your life and gradually you will be fed by these events and grow in ways you had never imagined. If your own emotions have been severely suppressed then accepting compliments and praise can be very uncomfortable and unsettling. We often avoid it as a defence mechanism, afterall if we are better than we thought then we may have to live up to these new expectations!
The treasure that lies beneath is however worth the hard work and sometimes pain of digging it up. Once you have started to reclaim your inner strength, your world changes. I have found that when something unusual crops up I am now able to view it as an opportunity to test myself. I have chosen to jump off into the unknown without a parachute so many times, rather than wait to be pushed,  that I have a certainty that I shall be held and supported in some way. If it turns out 'badly' you can always walk away, this is not failure but asserting your right to know what works and what doesn't work for you. And if it goes well, well you have succeeded where you never thought you could!